Christmas is fast approaching, and although this period is often seen as a well-deserved break from the challenges of the world, few people take the time to consider its impact on our planet. We associate Christmas with a time of joy, conviviality and sharing, but behind the tinsel, festive meals and gift-giving lies an unimaginable environmental impact. In fact, far from being a time of respite for the Earth, the festive season significantly increases our carbon footprint.
The main sources of this impact are numerous: gifts, which are often produced on a large scale and transported over long distances; food, with excess consumption and considerable wastage; travel, which leads to an increase in transport-related CO₂ emissions; and finally, decorations, which generate an overproduction of plastics and waste. In this article, we explore these various factors and show, through a few key figures, just how heavily Christmas can weigh on our environment. But don't worry, we'll also suggest some practical solutions and simple tips for reducing this impact and celebrating a more planet-friendly Christmas.
The consumer society in which we live pushes us to consume more than ever during the festive season. According to Ademe, greenhouse gas emissions from the festive season in France amount to 6,294 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 94 kilotonnes per person. With food wastage, waste accumulation and over-consumption, the Christmas festivities are more of a shock to the environment than a joyous and meaningful celebration.
Christmas food
The environmental impact of Christmas festivities in relation to food is mainly reflected in excessive consumption and food waste. At Christmas, 81% of French people prepare a festive meal, and in 83% of cases, the dishes are prepared in excess of the number of guests.
Meals are responsible for 970 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent on a global scale. In Italy alone, for example, the production and consumption of Christmas meals, including foie gras, meat, shellfish and their accompaniments, results in around 440,000 tonnes of wasted food.
On the move
Christmas means travelling to gather with family and friends. This travel represents 1,563 kilotonnes of CO2. The vast majority of which is emitted by car journeys.
The decorations
The Christmas period is often characterised by the brightly lit decorations that adorn Christmas trees, gardens and other festive places. While they create a magical atmosphere, these lights also consume a lot of energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the impact of Christmas on the planet is not limited to electricity consumption. It also affects biodiversity. The light pollution generated by these decorations disrupts the natural ecosystems around cities, as well as disrupting the biological cycles of many species.
Christmas decorations generate a considerable amount of pollution, but the question that sparks the most debate is that of the Christmas tree: should we buy a natural tree every year, or is it preferable to reuse a plastic tree for several seasons? There's no simple answer, because both options have a major environmental impact. On the one hand, natural trees often come from industrial and chemical crops that damage biodiversity, while on the other, artificial trees are made from plastics produced by the petrochemical industry, contributing to pollution and CO2 emissions.
Gifts
The final source of CO2 emissions during the Christmas festivities is undoubtedly presents. They represent the largest source of emissions, with a total of 3,575 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent for the entire French population. What's even more worrying about this emissions item is that 12 million of the 300 million presents given each year in France will never be used. Less than a million of these gifts end up directly in the bin. According to a study by ebay, every year 7.3 million French people plan to resell some of their gifts. Around €4 billion is spent on unwanted gifts, which corresponds to the production of almost 4 million tonnes of CO2. If these gifts were not purchased, the carbon footprint of Christmas shopping could be reduced by 80 kg of CO2 per person, bringing the footprint down to 230 kg of CO2 per individual.
How can we reduce the impact of our Christmas celebrations so that we can enjoy a more sustainable and peaceful festive season?
The impact of Christmas on the planet is immense, and often goes unnoticed. That's why we've come up with a few tips to help you reduce your ecological footprint while still enjoying the magic of the festive season.
Why not consider second-hand, reconditioned or fair trade gifts? This helps to reduce the production of new objects while offering unique and meaningful gifts. Another idea might be to choose to give just one gift per person, a way of prioritising quality over quantity and limiting waste. For the wrapping, why not reuse newspapers or fabrics for an original, eco-friendly package? If you like Christmas trees, a DIY tree or a potted tree could be a great alternative, and you can even replant it after the festive season!
When it comes to meals, a plant-based menu can be a tasty and environmentally-friendly option, as well as being delicious for your guests. And when it comes to travel, perhaps this year you could try to cut down on car use and opt for public transport or car-sharing, for a Christmas that's a little lighter on CO2 emissions. These small, simple and cheerful actions can make a big difference and make your Christmas celebrations even more special, while respecting our beautiful planet. A slightly more ambitious challenge would be not to give presents. After all, let's remember why we celebrate Christmas: to take a well-deserved break, enjoy family time, share warm moments, create memories or express gratitude for the past year. All these reasons are ‘decarbonised’, meaning that they should not harm the planet. That's why it's important to do away with all the consumerism we've added to Christmas, and get back to the real essence of the holiday: being with loved ones and sharing precious moments.
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