#20: How to make your white Christmas green
Thijmen Meijer
12 December 2024
From green office traditions to eco-friendly decorations and commuting solutions, learn how to embrace sustainability without sacrificing the holiday spirit
"Remember, the greener our choices today, the whiter our winters might remain in the future."
Having a white Christmas is the best thing one can imagine during the holiday season—or at least, that’s what many of us believed growing up in the Northern Hemisphere. Snow in December has always been a magical symbol of joy and togetherness. But as green advocates, we know a "white Christmas" can carry a deeper meaning: it’s not just about snow; it’s about creating a healthier environment. After all, a world where snow reliably comes each winter signals a ‘normal’, balanced climate, reduced pollution, and a greener future.
So, how do we make our celebrations greener while still cherishing the magic of Christmas? Below you can find a few practical tips that can allow yourself and your organisation to get in the holiday spirit, while also embracing sustainability and social responsibility at the same time. Because sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the spirit of the season. In fact, the holidays are a perfect opportunity to combine environmental consciousness with kindness and social awareness. Whether it’s in our workplaces or personal lives, small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference.
So, how do we make our celebrations greener while still cherishing the magic of Christmas? Below you can find a few practical tips that can allow yourself and your organisation to get in the holiday spirit, while also embracing sustainability and social responsibility at the same time. Because sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the spirit of the season. In fact, the holidays are a perfect opportunity to combine environmental consciousness with kindness and social awareness. Whether it’s in our workplaces or personal lives, small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference.
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1. Reduce your digital footprint and don’t record every meeting
It might seem harmless, but storing recorded meetings on servers consumes significant energy. Every time you upload a piece of content (yes, even this article to be fair) you are permanently turning on a light switch in a server room somewhere on the other side of the world. With millions of users uploading and storing large files worldwide, the energy demands for data centres are skyrocketing. This holiday season, encourage your team to pause before hitting the record button. Ask: Do we really need this meeting recorded, or would a concise email summary suffice? It’s a simple habit shift that lightens our collective digital load.
2. Rethink your office Secret Santa: why not rather give to those in need?
The tradition of Secret Santa is a fun and quirky way to build community and create engagement and belonging, but it often results in unnecessary purchases, waste, and items that end up forgotten. Why not turn this tradition into something meaningful? Pool your budget and donate to a local charity or support a cause aligned with your company’s values. Instead of those individually purchased coffee mugs that will most likely end up on the bottom of your cup holder or kitchen drawer, you could partner with a local charity, and make someone’s actual real wish come true. It’s a powerful way to spread the holiday spirit beyond your team while championing sustainability and social responsibility.
It might seem harmless, but storing recorded meetings on servers consumes significant energy. Every time you upload a piece of content (yes, even this article to be fair) you are permanently turning on a light switch in a server room somewhere on the other side of the world. With millions of users uploading and storing large files worldwide, the energy demands for data centres are skyrocketing. This holiday season, encourage your team to pause before hitting the record button. Ask: Do we really need this meeting recorded, or would a concise email summary suffice? It’s a simple habit shift that lightens our collective digital load.
2. Rethink your office Secret Santa: why not rather give to those in need?
The tradition of Secret Santa is a fun and quirky way to build community and create engagement and belonging, but it often results in unnecessary purchases, waste, and items that end up forgotten. Why not turn this tradition into something meaningful? Pool your budget and donate to a local charity or support a cause aligned with your company’s values. Instead of those individually purchased coffee mugs that will most likely end up on the bottom of your cup holder or kitchen drawer, you could partner with a local charity, and make someone’s actual real wish come true. It’s a powerful way to spread the holiday spirit beyond your team while championing sustainability and social responsibility.
3. Prioritize green commuting: swap gas allowances for public transport tickets
As you might know by now, we are big on bikes, and other sustainable modes of transport. Furthermore, encouraging green commuting is one of the easiest ways to reduce your workplace’s environmental impact. So this year's holiday season, instead of offering gas allowances, consider gifting public transport passes or vouchers for shared mobility services. Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but it also sets an example of leadership in green practices - not to mention you could also beat those dreadful holiday traffic jams.
4. Rethink office decorations: go for green and recyclable
Office decorations are a beloved tradition, but energy-hungry light displays and single-use plastics definitely don’t align with your sustainable goals and objectives. So opt for decorations made from recycled materials, reusable items, or natural elements like pinecones, dried citrus, and evergreen branches. If lights are essential, choose energy-efficient LEDs and keep usage to a minimum. A beautifully decorated space can still reflect your commitment to the planet. Also guess what?
As you might know by now, we are big on bikes, and other sustainable modes of transport. Furthermore, encouraging green commuting is one of the easiest ways to reduce your workplace’s environmental impact. So this year's holiday season, instead of offering gas allowances, consider gifting public transport passes or vouchers for shared mobility services. Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but it also sets an example of leadership in green practices - not to mention you could also beat those dreadful holiday traffic jams.
4. Rethink office decorations: go for green and recyclable
Office decorations are a beloved tradition, but energy-hungry light displays and single-use plastics definitely don’t align with your sustainable goals and objectives. So opt for decorations made from recycled materials, reusable items, or natural elements like pinecones, dried citrus, and evergreen branches. If lights are essential, choose energy-efficient LEDs and keep usage to a minimum. A beautifully decorated space can still reflect your commitment to the planet. Also guess what?
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5. Buy a real Christmas tree. Yes, a real one!
Real Christmas trees far outweigh fake ones, in terms of which one is a greener choice. Real Christmas trees are a renewable resource, often grown on tree farms specifically for this purpose. They absorb carbon dioxide during their growth, providing a valuable service to the environment. Additionally, after the festivities, real trees can be recycled into mulch, benefiting local ecosystems. In comparison, fake trees are usually made from non-biodegradable materials, and most likely produced somewhere very far from its final location - creating huge carbon footprints even while they are being transported. Also when natural trees are harvested for sale, contrary to popular belief, more than ten times as many are left standing! For example, out of the 350-500 million growing on tree farms across the U.S., only 30 million trees are harvested each year. Find out more here why it’s worth opting for real trees instead of a plastic one.
Why this matters
Sustainability during the holiday season is more than a trend—it’s a necessity. By making small, mindful changes, your company can create a ripple effect, inspiring employees, clients, and partners to do the same. Remember, the greener our choices today, the whiter our winters might remain in the future.
Real Christmas trees far outweigh fake ones, in terms of which one is a greener choice. Real Christmas trees are a renewable resource, often grown on tree farms specifically for this purpose. They absorb carbon dioxide during their growth, providing a valuable service to the environment. Additionally, after the festivities, real trees can be recycled into mulch, benefiting local ecosystems. In comparison, fake trees are usually made from non-biodegradable materials, and most likely produced somewhere very far from its final location - creating huge carbon footprints even while they are being transported. Also when natural trees are harvested for sale, contrary to popular belief, more than ten times as many are left standing! For example, out of the 350-500 million growing on tree farms across the U.S., only 30 million trees are harvested each year. Find out more here why it’s worth opting for real trees instead of a plastic one.
Why this matters
Sustainability during the holiday season is more than a trend—it’s a necessity. By making small, mindful changes, your company can create a ripple effect, inspiring employees, clients, and partners to do the same. Remember, the greener our choices today, the whiter our winters might remain in the future.
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