According to Statistics Norway, there are around 1.1 million kind children in Norway, and then Christmas shopping is something that is difficult to avoid. NHO has predicted that Norwegians will do Christmas shopping for NOK 138.5 billion. On average, each individual will buy food, drink and Christmas presents for NOK 24,869 in November and December. – We know that we spend huge sums on Christmas every year, and that it comes with a fairly high environmental impact. It might be a good idea to see if you can both save some money, and if you can make some good environmental choices at the same time. That’s what Anja Bakken Riise, who is the leader of the environmental organization Framtiden i våre hands, says. She says there are two areas in particular that are a particular burden at Christmas. – It’s about the food we eat, and what we give each other. 1. Give away used gifts If you buy used or find something you have at home, you can save the environment a lot. Anja Bakken Riise is the leader of Framtiden in our hands. She has good tips on how to have an environmentally friendly Christmas celebration. – The most important thing is to have the “Christmas gift talk” and talk to those around you about what you want, so that you get things that you actually want, but also to say if you are open to getting used Christmas gifts, says Riise . According to this year’s Christmas survey from Finn, as many as 3.9 million Norwegians are positive about receiving used Christmas presents. Over 830,000 Norwegians say they plan to buy a used Christmas present this year. – With used gifts, things can have a longer life, instead of me buying new ones, says Riise. At the Espehaugen environmental park in Bergen, BIR has received over 300 tonnes of reusable goods this year. In November alone, and so far in December, they have received 27 tonnes. And it is at one of nine facilities BIR has. In Bergen, at BOB’s used halls in the environmental parks, you can pick up almost everything you could need for free. Here, communications advisor Tina Skudal at the BIR looks at a coffin that someone has given away. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news Here the goods are brought out, and are picked up, almost immediately, by people who can get something new (used) completely free of charge. John-Fredrik Butz holds up two beer tasting glasses, get one for free. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news – It’s a scary thought that this could have been thrown away, but what I do know is that a lot of fine things still end up in residual waste, so there is still a small problem with that. That’s what John-Fredrik Butz, who is the manager of Espehaugen environmental park, says. – We just have to be very alert and try to save everything we can, says Butz. Both at Finn, second-hand shops, or the app Tise, you may be able to find the item of clothing or bag that someone you know wants. You can find books, for example, on the app Bookis, or for free here at Espehaugen environmental park. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news 2. Christmas without (or with fewer) gifts – But what about those who have enough, then? – I think that many people are aware of that, and I think it should be possible to talk about it, says Riise. She says the pressure to give gifts can cause both stress and pressure to spend money you may not have. But, she has an alternative proposal not to give anything. – If you think it would be a bit overwhelming not to give each other something, there are many families who agree that we draw lots to decide who to give a gift to, and then everyone gets a gift, says Riise. There are also examples of families who provide a dish each, and have a wonderful dinner party together instead of giving gifts. It seems that many people have had enough DVDs, because at Espehaugen miljøpark in Bergen, BOB has meters of DVDs. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news 3. Eat up the food – When it comes to food, it’s a good idea to plan well, so that we don’t buy much more food than we need, also so that we can eat the food, says Riise. She says that from an environmental perspective it is good to eat more fish and more fruit and vegetables. – But, if there’s one time we should enjoy a meat meal, it’s Christmas. So during the Christmas celebrations, I would rather think more about eating the food you buy in. At Christmas, Riise believes that you must think about not buying too much food, so that you avoid food waste. Photo: Marie Melgård / news 4. Good alternative packaging The future in our hands estimates that Norwegians use 60 million meters of wrapping paper every Christmas, and that is not good news. – Christmas wrapping paper is not reusable. It contains almost no paper fiber, there is a lot of clay in it, and dye. Then it’s good to avoid it, says communications advisor Tina Skudal in BIR. BIR has its own bags that customers can fill up with residual waste at Christmas, but Skudal would prefer that residual waste could be reduced. Tina Skudal in BOB with a residual waste bag that you have to pick up, and which is free to hand in. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news – You can take care of extra fine Christmas wrapping paper, but then you have to save it for next Christmas, but you can also sew gift bags that can be reused year after year, says Skudal. But, there is an alternative. – Something that I am very fond of is using old newspapers to wrap gifts in, and then the paper can also go in the paper waste and be recycled, says Riise. The amount of wrapping paper Norwegians use corresponds to wrapping paper that goes around the globe one and a half times. Or 300 round trips Bergen-Voss. Photo: Tor Risberg / news And if you don’t have an old newspaper from Bergens Tidende, Bergensavisen, or other newspapers, you can also wrap the gifts in cloth. – It is possible to use old textiles or fabric. A tablecloth or perhaps a cloth napkin that you can use again and again, says Riise. If you wrap the gifts in gray paper, or fold the bags from untreated paper yourself, the paper can also be recycled. Photo: Lise Sørensen / news 5. Make something Would you be happy with some home-made cakes, or perhaps jam made from fruit and berries from the garden? If you use the berry, you also avoid food waste! How about an almost completely finished bread (add water, raise and fry) in a jar? Here you just have to be creative. Picking berries in nature is free, and is also a great gift for those who haven’t had the time or energy to go berry picking themselves. Photo: Allan Klo / news 6. Give away experiences or services And what about giving away services? – Try giving away an experience, a concert, a cinema, a coupon for a walk with the dog, or house cleaning. Give things that create memories, or services, says Skudal in BIR. Perhaps a sleigh ride, forest ride or bonfire ride is the best gift? Or what about buying tickets to the theater or a festival? – Often it will be more environmentally friendly to give each other an experience or a service. Many of us may know that what we want most is more time with the one we love, says Riise. – So maybe give a cinema ticket, or a walk with a cup of cocoa, or something pleasant you can do together, instead of buying new things, says Riise. Perhaps the next meeting with friends can take place outside in nature, by a fire, without smartphones and other noise. Photo: Nina Didriksen / news 7. Find good New Year’s resolutions OK. You have opened the gifts, but the effort is not over. Sorting waste at Christmas is just as important as the rest of the year. Then you can think ahead. Do you have too much of everything? Sell what you have no use for, or give it away, either to a private person or to a second-hand shop. Then the thing gets a longer life with others who need it more than you. And what about testing shopping stops? – We see many people set as a New Year’s resolution not to buy more than five new garments a year, which researchers say is a sustainable level of clothing consumption, says Riise. Riise also has several good tips for next year. – Another good idea is to try to eat a little more fruit and vegetables, and eat a little more seafood, and cut back a little on meat consumption, says Riise. – It is good for both health and the environment. Get in touch Hi! Thanks for reading! Did you think about anything while you were reading? Do you have any tips on this issue, or tips on other issues I should look into? I would be very happy to receive an email. Published 12/12/2024, at 12.55 p.m
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This is how you can make environmentally friendly choices in the Christmas season and at Christmas time – news Vestland
