āMy obvious tip for Christmas is to reduce consumption, but to still share nice moments with friends and family, and to make them happy by giving personal presents like handicrafts and do-it-yourself stuff. Itās a good way to show that you invest the time and effort to bring joy to someone, instead of just going to the store and buying something impersonal. For example, you can make homemade tawashi (a type of scrubbing brush), cosmetics or sweetsā, says Hugo Guyader, senior lecturer in business administration at the Department of Management and Engineering (IEI).
DIY or pre-owned presents
Navitas, the largest student club at Linkƶping University with a focus on sustainability, has managed a second-hand shop in the A Building at Campus Valla for two years. To celebrate its second anniversary, and to inspire others to celebrate sustainably, they recently held a workshop in Studenthuset where they showed how to make your own macramƩ plant hanger, paint your own mugs and create your own Christmas decorations.
What is needed, to make your own presents and decorations?
Beautiful paper birds made from old music books. Photo credit Charlotte Perhammar āAll you need is the desire. With a little inspiration, you can use anything. Let your imagination go wild, and preferably use recycled materials like old books, newspapers, toilet paper rolls, yarn and milk cartons. If you think itās hard, start out with easy steps and projects. Proceed with an open mind, and in the end youāll have some beautiful creationsā, says Domenica de Janon, masterās student in the programme Outdoor and Sustainability ĢĒŠÄĶųŅ³°ę.
Anything can be used for Christmas decorations, says Domenica de Janon, masterās student in the programme Outdoor and Sustainability ĢĒŠÄĶųŅ³°ę. Photo credit Charlotte Perhammar Still, if youāre not able to or donāt want to make something yourself, you can buy something at the LiU Student Second-hand shop or in other second-hand shops in town or online.
āYou can also buy locally produced products, to support local craftspeople and to avoid long-distance transports, which have a huge environmental impact, or you can buy ethical and sustainable presents like wooden toothbrushes, reusable coffee filters or honey candles without chemical ingredientsā, says Hugo Guyader.
However many sustainable products are more expensive than other products, and high prices, or a low willingness to pay are the main barriers to sustainable consumption, according to Hugo Guyader.
āWithout the knowledge or information about a productās environmental benefits, consumers base their decisions on price. And since producing eco-friendly products like organic food can cost more, and this cost is not absorbed by the producer or retailer, itās ultimately the buyer who pays the higher price.ā
How can businesses and politicians influence people to consume more sustainably?
Give an experience such as a ādinner with meā, forest hike or a game nightā, says Hugo Guyader, researcher in business administration and sustainable consumption.āTaxes can be lower for products that meet rigorous environmental criteria, so the prices will be lower. Businesses can encourage more sustainable consumer behaviour by ānudgingā, which means that they make it easier for consumers to make eco-friendly decisions, for instance by way of better product labelling, or by making the eco-friendly products the default option. Shops can create loyalty programmes that reward sustainable behaviours by awarding points for reusing, repairing and recycling goods.ā
Hugo Guyader explains that the sharing economy, where you rent or borrow things instead of buying and owning them, has contributed the most to sustainable consumption over the past ten years. The sharing economy is also driven by digitalisation such as online platforms and GPS technology, which make it possible to further increase the level of utilisation of the goods. So one way to make Christmas more sustainable could be to rent a tree instead of buying one.
āYou can also give an experience such as a ādinner with meā, forest hike or a game nightā, says Hugo Guyader.
āAnother tip is to give to charity in someone elseās nameā, says Matilda Arvidsson, chairperson at Navitas.
To reduce weight, you can reuse paper and wrapping paper, or skip these papers altogether, and use textiles that can be reused over and over again. Also, the tube from the wrapping paper can be used.
āOne year I gave socks as a present, and I wrapped them in the tube, added some horns, and drew eyes on the tube so it looked like a reindeerā, says Domenica de Janon.
Reduce food waste and eat more greens
What about the Christmas buffet: can it be made more climate friendly?
It's all about the details. Photo credit Charlotte Perhammar āBe bold: challenge the Christmas buffet norm! Don't put out more food than what will actually be eaten and enjoyed. Donāt serve excessive amounts of food, keep the buffet sensibleā, says Matilda Arvidsson.
Domenica de Janon, who is from Ecuador, tells us that she and some friends who arenāt travelling home for Christmas will have a vegan rather than a traditional Christmas buffet.
āReducing or eliminating meat products, and buying local ingredients that are in season, are good ways of making the Christmas buffet more climate friendly. There are lots of delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes that can be served with flavours associated with Christmas. Also, cooking food with friends and family gives memorable experiencesā, says Hugo Guyader.
Take it easy, and travel sustainably
Why not make your own macramƩ plant hanger? Photo credit Charlotte Perhammar To avoid stress, you can limit the number of Christmas presents to one per person, and focus more on social sustainability.
āSpend time with family and recharge your batteries. Stay in Linkƶping/Norrkƶping, or travel home using public transportā, says Matilda Arvidsson.
