A Sustainable Christmas

Do you want to have a pleasant, sustainable and environmentally friendly Christmas? It is not at all impossible and there are some very important things to consider if you want your contribution this Christmas to be positive. In a previous blog post, I talk about the concept of sustainability and why it is so important to think about many different factors in all life situations. In this blog post, the focus is on one of two large areas that annually contribute to a negative impact at Christmas time. I try to explain what you can think about when purchasing Christmas gifts so that you can succeed in thinking more climate- smart this Christmas time .

Christmas presents

Christmas presents, together with the Christmas food, are the major contribution to the climate and environmental impact of Christmas, and the most important thing is to try to minimize the purchase of them. The less material and energy used, the better it is from a sustainability perspective. Christmas presents are part of Christmas, so what's the best? The biggest risk with giving Christmas presents is that the gift will not be used or appreciated as much as the buyer wishes. Try to find out what the person or child actually finds interesting and fun. Ask someone close to you, everyone doesn't need to be surprised, it's enough for the recipient to be happy and surprised. Now for the more specific tips.

Choose sustainable materials! When it comes to sustainability, renewable materials and materials based on fossil fuels are often talked about. Renewable materials mean that nature's resources are not consumed in the same way. So choose renewable both when it comes to Christmas presents, Christmas decorations and Christmas decorations. In addition, it is best to choose products with as little material or as short a list of contents as possible because this means that less energy is needed to create these products and it is easier to take care of them when they are used up. Within non-renewable materials there are some that become new products after use and are considered more durable: Glass, and metals. Iron and aluminum are actually 100% recyclable. For cardboard and glass, it is a certain part of the material that disappears when an old product breaks down. Invest in giving away Christmas presents that contain materials within the renewable materials shown below and avoid the others. Also keep in mind that the wrapping can be more or less durable. It is best to avoid wrapping paper and, above all, package strings. Instead, use things that are already at home, for example newsprint, catalog paper or stylish cardboard bags. For extra decoration, there are simpler paper/napkin folds that can make your package the prettiest under the tree without using new resources.

Some renewable materials: Wood, cork, wool, leather, bioplastic, 100% bio-based materials
Some non-renewable materials: Rubber. Plastics, metals, batteries, Glass

We at North Ones offer durable and cool phone cases. The cork shell consists of 100% recycled and sustainable material. The pile shell contains a large amount of bio-based material and is degradable, and the wooden shell contains, in addition to wood, a small amount of plastic. In our products, the amount of material cork, wood, vegan leather , bioplastic and plastic is minimized. Also ensures that 3 times more plastic than is used in the shells is collected from nature to become new products instead of ending up in the oceans.

We try to clearly report how we relate to sustainability, nature and the environment so that you as a consumer will know what applies. As the sustainability officer, I recommend giving away a mobile phone case with Northone's logo on it if you think/know that the person who will receive the gift might be in need of a protective and stylish case. We invest in having the market's most climate-smart shell. Take a look at our website to find out more about materials and recycling and don't hesitate to e-mail questions if there are any ambiguities. Think sustainably!

I also want to point out that there is often no added value in giving expensive or many gifts, but that a personal and carefully thought-out present is often more appreciated in the long run. Also keep in mind that everyone has different financial conditions and there is nothing in the money itself that creates happiness in itself. When it comes to children, and Christmas presents for siblings, there is no reason for it to be completely "fair". Neither the amount of packages nor the cost of the packages need to be compared. We adults have a tendency to make a fuss about it and here too a targeted gift is the most effective and for the children it often doesn't matter.

Use Christmas and the time before Christmas to socialize instead of stressing about Christmas gift shopping. Alternative Christmas gifts that are better than giving a gadget are:
Second Hand and reuse, Subscription to audiobooks/ebooks/magazines, experiences or just a nice gesture, perhaps well-directed charity?

Tip: Don't mess it up unnecessarily and enjoy the Christmas season. Invest in green, climate-smart packages and do as we do, minimize resource use and try to compensate for the resources used.

PS Christmas food is also a big sustainability culprit, but two quick tips are to replace the traditional Christmas ham with wild boar Christmas ham and to only choose Swedish raw materials when it comes to products such as meat, milk and cheese from animal husbandry. This is always true but especially during Christmas when food shopping escalates. DS

Have a sustainable and happy Christmas!