The festive season is just around the corner and with it the perfect opportunity to reflect on our consumption and opt for more sustainable alternatives. How about focusing less on material possessions this year and instead focussing on shared experiences and mindfulness? Here are five tips on how you can celebrate a more conscious and sustainable Christmas that brings people together.

Tip 1: Creative Alternatives to the Traditional Christmas Tree

Why not try something new? Instead of a classic Christmas tree, you can create a DIY twig tree. Find a beautiful branch and decorate it with lights, pendants or home-made decorative elements. This way, you can conjure up a personalised Christmas atmosphere and protect the environment at the same time. Perfect for a sustainable Christmas.

Tip 2: Give Away Time Instead of Stuff 

In a world full of material things, experiences are the best gift at Christmas. Think about giving the gift of shared activities – whether it's a trip to the cinema, an evening of cooking together or a trip into nature. These shared moments will be remembered and bring joy without having to use up unnecessary resources.

Tip 3: A Shared Feast for Everyone

Instead of organising a huge Christmas feast on your own, you can host a meal together where everyone brings something. This way you avoid wasting food and can try out different dishes at the same time. It's a great way to strengthen togetherness and enjoy culinary diversity. This is sustainability in action.

Tip 4: Spread a Little Love at Christmas

At Christmas, we should all think of those who might need a little support. Write Christmas cards to lonely people or residents of retirement homes to make them happy. You can also offer to do the shopping for neighbours in need so that they can enjoy the festive season a little more easily.

Tip 5: Conscious Use of Packaging

Choose gifts that are not only delicious, but can also be packaged in an environmentally friendly way. Make your own treats together with friends or family - for example, homemade jam, spice mixes or biscuits. Pack them in reusable jars or pretty fabric bags. Not only will you be giving a delicious surprise, you'll also be supporting a conscious diet without plastic waste.

Did you already know? Packaging not only plays a major role when giving gifts at Christmas, but also in our Dole production. In our agricultural and processing plants, we are committed to the principle of "reduce, reuse and recycle". Our goal is to make all packaging materials for tropical fruit recyclable or compostable by 2025. In this way, we are helping to reduce waste together.

Merry and sustainable Christmas!

Your Dole team