Sometimes annual celebrations and festivities can feel more like a moral dilemma for many of us. While many of us try to make environment-friendly ethical choices all around the clock, it can be tough to maintain the same during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. We often wonder the things that all of us could follow, so our celebrations do not necessarily have to be a burden on the environment. The below suggestions can help reduce the carbon footprints this New Year. Not only you would be able to celebrate in a cleaner and a greener way, but you will also be supporting a more sustainable system, just by making a few right choices. Adopt one or more, and surely Santa would be raining gifts through your chimney. (If you have one)

Goodie Point #1 Buy organic food/ vegetables

When we talk about festivals, the first thing which crosses our mind is delicious food. During such annual celebrations, our diet goes for a toss. Not many know that knowingly or unknowingly we also consume a   poison in the form of pesticides and fertilizers. This Christmas, let us pledge to opt for the uber healthy and organic way. Organic fruits and vegetables are better for our bodies and the planet, along with the farmers that grow them and the overall food ecosystem. ‘Natural’ things save money than processed foods readily available off the shelf. By opting for organic fruits and vegetables, you will be supporting a more sustainable system of farming and bidding goodbye to pesticide residues this New Year.

Goodies Point # 2  Shop Local

All of us could reduce the carbon footprint on a large scale just by buying local. Visiting your local farm/ shop will curb carbon emissions tremendously. While visiting your local farmer’s Mandi, it is preferable to use a bicycle or take a walk to fetch the local produce and encourage the usage of jute bags. Shopping for organic fruits and vegetables locally ensures that you consume fresh instead of stale. This Christmas bash, instead of increasing food miles let us increase the smiles of our local farmers.

Goodie Point #3 Wrap your gifts in a planet-friendly wrapping paper

We all love the exchange gifts during festivals. Make sure to use eco-friendly wrappers as they are readily available in and around us. We could give expensive plastic wrappers a miss this time and go for used papers. This is the most economical and environmental friendly option. Encourage usage of reusable gift bags and recycled gift wraps. You could use your old comics for a trendy gift wrapping option. Let us make it a unique, quirky and colorful new year.

Goodie Point #4 Use natural/ recycled decorations

Christmas and New Year’s celebrations come every year just like our resolutions and the list of promises to be broken. We need not spend every year on disposable decorative items which wear out after a period. Instead, we could re-use the old decorative items. Recycling the same would save a significant portion of expenditure. Moreover, use of natural and sustainable products enhances the beauty of decorations.

Goodie Point #5 Save Energy

Santa gets too tired by delivering presents to people across the world. And hence he needs some serious rest. This time say no to loudspeakers and switch off the lights once asleep as Santa gives presents to those contributing towards saving the energy. Let us adopt sustainable methods of enjoying our celebrations by saving energy. We need to conserve energy and support organic farming for the coming generations so that their Christmas and New Year’s celebrations be as joyous too.