Dreaming of a greener Christmas
From reusable decorations to planet-friendly feasts, here’s how to embrace a Christmas that’s kinder to earth
CHRISTMAS is a time of joy and reconnecting. But it’s also a time of excess and waste if you’re not careful – from the heaps of uneaten food to the mounds of discarded wrapping paper.
Eco-advocates such as Eunice Yeo and Michelle Chow have been purposefully creating Christmas traditions that embrace the festive spirit while keeping sustainability at the forefront. Yeo is the founder of not-for-profit organisation Peace of Art, which organises the annual Sustainable Christmas Market. Chow is the founder and creative director of sustainable design studio Pass It On; she also organises the popular eco-festival Green-House.
Yeo says: “The wake-up call for me was when I realised my two kids were getting more toys during Christmas than they had time to play with. I felt that we needed to be more mindful about what we were giving and receiving during the holidays. It wasn’t just about reducing waste, but also about teaching ourselves the value of experiences and thoughtfulness over material things.”
She and her friends opt for games such as Secret Santa and Dirty Santa to cut down on the number of gifts they have to bring to parties, embracing a slower and more intentional Christmas with more moments of sharing memories and connections.
Meanwhile, Chow has been advocating for simple sustainable practices, such as ordering just the right amount of party food, reusing Christmas decorations, and swopping or borrowing beautiful tableware from friends and neighbours.
Like Yeo, Chow thinks that there are “many small retailers in Singapore creating terrific gifts for Christmas”.
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“So instead of buying objects that need to be shipped over great distances, consider championing local brands that might have done up their premises beautifully, and appreciate the interactions you can have with these retailers. It’s about supporting local talent, reducing carbon footprints, and fostering a sense of community,” she adds.
Here are some more of their tips, as well as our own.
Feast without the footprint
Christmas dinners are a cherished tradition that bring loved ones together to celebrate joy and gratitude. But who says an eco-friendly feast can’t create equally special memories?
Host a sustainable Christmas dinner using locally sourced, organic and/or vegan ingredients from stores such as Little Farms (littlefarms.com) which has six locations around the island, SuperNature (supernature.com.sg) in Dempsey, and Nature’s Glory (natures-glory.com) in Marymount. Fresh and natural produce, meats and seafood can inspire new traditions around the table.
For an even greener statement, opt for a plant-based menu, as meat production carries a much higher carbon footprint. Delicious dishes featuring local vegetables, grains and legumes are both nourishing and kind to the planet. Suppliers such as Green Loop Farms (greenloopfarms.com), Kok Fah Technology Farm (kokfahfarm.com.sg) and Quan Fa Organic Farm (quanfaorganic.com.sg) offer fresh, locally grown produce, while Bewilder (bewildersg.com) provides unique, sustainably cultivated mushrooms such as lion’s mane and shiitake to elevate your meal.
Skip disposables and embrace elegant tableware that you can swop with or borrow from your neighbours. Opt for biocomposite plates from Pass It On (pass-it-on.co), organic cotton napkins from Sojao (sojao.shop) and upcycled leather coasters from Bynd Artisan (byndartisan.com).
Faux is fabulous
Just as many fashion lovers have stopped buying animal fur out of love for animals, many green-minded people are also embracing plastic Christmas trees as the stylish and progressive choice. Opt for a high-quality artificial tree that can be reused for years, saving both money and the environment.
Check out Masons Home Decor (mason.com.sg), which offers hyper-realistic trees reaching up to 3 metres tall. For beautifully dense options with a 10-year warranty, Pine Concept (christmastrees.com.sg) is a solid choice. If you need a full festive set-up, Tidings (christmastreesg.com) is a one-stop shop for both trees and matching decorations.
When it comes to ornaments, choose elegant gold or metallic baubles, which are timeless, reusable, and chic. You can also create ornaments using recycled glass, glitter and beads for a personal touch. Art For Good (artforgood.sg/studio) and Epic Workshops (epicworkshops.com.sg) have upcoming courses on crafting one-of-a-kind baubles.
As for fairy lights, opt for the more energy-efficient LED kinds that are widely available in stores such as Ikea (ikea.com.sg). Otherwise, you can also set the mood with candles from Pass It On (pass-it-on.co), which offers plant-based candles that double as planters after burning.
Planet-friendly gifts
Sustainable gift-giving is a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas while being mindful of the planet.
“Experiential gifts”, for instance, are perfect for creating lasting memories without material clutter. For art lovers, consider gifting a pottery workshop at centrally located studios such as Am I Addicted (amiaddicted.sg) and Taoz Ceramics Studio (taozceramics.studio). In case you haven’t noticed, pottery has become increasingly popular among Singaporeans.
Meanwhile, foodies might enjoy a cooking class by Chef De Maison (privatechef.sg/cooking-class) featuring experienced chefs as teachers, or else a guided tour around parts of the Singapore exploring the edible greens growing right under our noses, organised by Gastrogeography of Singapore (email lita@gos.sg or steve@gos.sg).
For eco-friendly party gifts, consider mini potted plants from Soilboy (soilboy.sg), which boasts some rare greens seeded in exquisite pots, or Plunt.co (plunt.co) for its low-maintenance varieties growing in artisanal pots.
If you want a personal touch, curate do-it-yourself hampers filled with homemade treats as well as artisanal products from local bakeries. Include goodies such as pies from Elijah Pies (elijahpies.com.sg), cookies from La Levain (lalevain.com), jams from Straits Preserves (straitspreserves.com), or small-batch chocolate from Fossa Chocolate (fossachocolate.com).
Finally, rethink your gift wrap. Instead of new wrapping paper, reuse vintage scarves and boxes to package your presents stylishly. These thoughtful alternatives add elegance to your gifts while keeping them eco-friendly.
Send love across the globe
With friends and family spread all over the world, many Singaporeans are rethinking how to send Yuletide cheer without leaving a hefty carbon footprint. Take Chow, for example: Her brother lives in Los Angeles, and she’s found creative, eco-friendly ways to gift across the distance.
She opts for locally sourced or eco-friendly items, cutting down on shipping and packaging. She also considers e-gifts such as gift cards to eliminate the need for physical delivery. For a personal touch, think about e-greeting cards or digital photo albums – thoughtful keepsakes that come with zero paper waste.
Thanks to video calls, families can now host virtual Christmas gatherings to celebrate together. They can share festive meals, sing carols, swop stories and open gifts – all in real time, without the carbon emissions of travel.
Sometimes, the most meaningful gift doesn’t come wrapped at all. Making a donation to a cause your loved ones care about can be a gesture that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas giving and leave a lasting impact.
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