5 essential tips for a sustainable Christmas 2024

2024 was a year of growth

and valuable experience for EINFACH MEHRWEG. We have been successful not only in the operational area, but also in terms of our environmental impact: In 2024, we saved a total of 29,569 kg CO2e, 556,146 liters of water and 41,159 kg of waste - a significant reduction compared to single-use packaging. This was confirmed by our ISO 14040/14044-compliant life cycle assessment from 2023, which was audited by Bureau Veritas and is based on the assumption that each packaging is reused 50 times.

‍

and valuable experience for EINFACH MEHRWEG. We have successfully replaced 914,210 single-use packaging for To-G food and beverages - that's 2.1 million since the launch of EINFACH MEHRWEG in 2023. Orders for our bestseller, the large tray, have increased by 9.89% compared to the previous year and some of our containers have already had up to 7 rotations. It shows that our system works and is becoming increasingly popular.

Keinachtsbaum as an innovative solution

The Keinachtsbaum® is a modular wooden stand that is filled with cut greenery from fir trees. The branches come from sustainably managed trees. The trunk can be used as a coat rack after the holidays, for example [4].

Energy-saving lighting

The right lighting creates Christmas spirit, but during the Advent season Germany consumes as much electricity as a medium-sized city does in the whole year [5].

‍

Advantages of LED lighting

LED fairy lights save up to 90 % electricity compared to conventional light bulbs and only cost around 6 euros in electricity costs during the Christmas period. They are also durable and last up to 10,000 hours, which means they can be used for many years.

We are optimistic about the coming year and look forward to getting even more people excited about sustainability and reusable packaging.

‍

Sustainable packaging materials

- Recycled wrapping paper (e.g. with the Blue Angel seal)

- Wrapping paper and jute twine

- Compostable alternatives

‍

Creative packaging ideas

The Japanese furoshiki tradition of wrapping gifts in cloth is sustainable and decorative. More ideas:

- Newspaper with natural decorations

- Old calendar pages or maps

- Cloth bags that can be reused

- Preserving jars or tin cans for homemade items

‍

3. climate-friendly festive meals

The festive meal is a highlight of the Christmas season, but unfortunately around 270,000 tons of food are wasted during this time [7]. Here are tips for a sustainable festive meal.

Regional ingredients

Winter offers many regional delicacies: Kale, lamb's lettuce, parsnips, pumpkin, red cabbage, celeriac, potatoes, chestnuts, apples, pears, walnuts and citrus fruits. These ingredients are available fresh and bring variety to the table.

‍

Seasonal menu planning

Go for organic quality, especially when it comes to dairy products [8]. A vegetarian Christmas menu can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of the festivities, as avoiding meat production, especially beef or pork, reduces CO₂ emissions and the use of resources such as water and energy.