If we can also put into the mix a little creativity and a good dash of faith and family affection, we can really enjoy Christmas in the most intense, fun and authentic way!<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that Christmas is a time to receive, but it\u2019s also much more about giving. We all like to buy presents for family and friends<\/strong>, but our budget often doesn\u2019t match our ideas, and sometimes the latter are hard to come by too: what to get for your parents if they\u2019ve got everything they need? How can we spread the money around so that everyone gets a present? Well, sometimes less is more, and so here are some ideas about how you can show your loved ones the love they deserve, but without forgetting about the rest of the planet and society.<\/p>\n And not just at Christmas either, but throughout the year. It\u2019s always a good idea to plan your purchases to minimize waste: only buy what you need or what you\u2019re really going to use at this time.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re going to host guests at your home over Christmas, you might want to reconsider providing the traditional Christmas fare \u2013 admittedly delicious but not always very healthy. Why not surprise your loved ones with new recipes with more vegetables and less meat, more fruit and less sugar. And, of course, shop local<\/strong> and buy freshly made sweet things \u2013 indeed, buy fresh whenever possible<\/strong>. Buy loose items, rather than pre-packaged ones, and in stores near where you live \u2013 not only does this mean you\u2019ll get better quality, but you\u2019ll also be helping the local economy and reducing your carbon footprint.<\/p>\n Remember: Christmas is special for the memories we create, rather than the objects we give or receive. Spending a morning at the local market with family or friends to buy ingredients for that special meal \u2013 which you could cook together \u2013 can be a wonderfully fun and totally Christmassy experience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that Christmas wouldn\u2019t feel like Christmas without lights, nativity scenes, decorations and, of course, the tree. But when you\u2019re decorating your house or wrapping your gifts, why not go for a more sustainable approach?<\/p>\n Use LED lights<\/strong> for your decorations \u2013 they don\u2019t contain mercury or tungsten and so have a lower impact on the environment. They may well be a bit more expensive, but their price has been coming down and they have the advantage of using less energy, they last longer, and, when they do give out, they\u2019re recyclable.<\/p>\n ACCORDING TO THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, 40% OF SALES OF BATTERIES OCCUR OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Do you still send out Christmas cards? We\u2019re not going to convince you to change to electronic messages, but think about this: just in the USA the amount of paper used to make Christmas cards every year is equivalent to 300,000 trees. Choose hand-made or recycled options<\/strong> to give your Christmas message a more personal and authentic touch. But if you still want to go out and buy cards\u2026 choose those that support charities at least!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.uchceu.es\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/11\/Navidad_Sostenible-940x541.jpg\")
01. Stop the present madness<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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02. Consume less and better<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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03. Light up Christmas\u2026 sustainably<\/strong><\/h3>\n