In the European Union, as much as 132 kg of food per person per year ends up in the bin. That’s 8-9 months of potential meals for one person for a year gone forever. Households are responsible for more than half of that waste, and during the holidays, it spikes: lavish dinners, extra snacks, festive treats, and overenthusiastic shopping carts all add up. Dutch research shows that many of us buy far more than we actually need in the run-up to Christmas. 

But hey, food isn’t the only culprit. Overbuying gifts, decking the halls with brand-new decorations every year, or chasing the elusive perfect festive aesthetic can leave your house cluttered, your stress levels high, and the planet feeling a little bruised.

So here’s a thought: what if Christmas could be just as magical without all the excess? What if we celebrated with intention, creativity, and a splash of sustainability, instead of mass consumption? Let’s dive into 10 ways to deinfluence Christmas and actually enjoy the season for a change.

10 ways to deinfluence Christmas

Skip the ‘more is better’ mindset. Bake cookies, bread, or fudge with love and plan meals so nothing goes to waste. Leftover vegetables? Turn them into a hearty soup. Too much bread? Make a cozy breadcake or French toast for breakfast or lunch. Extra rice? Stir it into a veggie-packed fried rice. Festive smells, happy tummies, zero guilt!

New isn’t automatically better. That vintage cookbook, quirky board game, or retro vinyl might just steal the show. Gifts with character have stories, personality, and soul, things a brand-new box rarely brings.

Got a present from last year that’s not your vibe? Pass it on. Thoughtful regifting is eco-friendly, funny, and sometimes downright legendary. Just maybe skip gifting it back to the original giver… unless you’re feeling mischievous. 

Those old ornaments, fairy lights, and wall hangings? They’ve got stories. Keep them, mix in a sprinkle of DIY magic, and your home will be festive, personal, and planet-friendly all at once.

Instead of another gadget or sweater, gift memories. Movie nights, winter walks, cooking together: moments that stick longer than any object gathering dust in a cupboard.

Knit a scarf, make candles, bake jam, craft ornaments. Imperfect is perfect. Handmade gifts carry heart, personality, and often a laugh. And honestly, those ‘oops’-creations are usually the ones remembered.

Shiny plastic paper? Nah. Go for brown paper, newspaper clippings, or fabric scraps, tied with string. It looks effortlessly charming, creative, and keeps mountains of waste out of the bin.

Glass jars make charming snow globes, old sweaters can become cozy pillow covers, and leftover fabric transforms into quirky gift bags. Upcycling is a fun way to give old things new life and a little flair. Not feeling crafty? Call in reinforcements… maybe your mom, wink wink, nudge nudge.

Set a theme or a limit: ‘something you already own,’ ‘second-hand treasure,’ or ‘experience voucher.’ Less pressure, less waste, more laughs and gifts that actually matter.