In a year that was anything but normal, we had to reorganize our whole life - and Christmas is no exception. Sustainability is the watchword, whether the goal is to reduce expenses or to avoid excess and waste. But focusing on the essential and saving does not mean cutting down on celebrations, as we can always adapt, reuse or transform our house and the way we celebrate -without leaving anyone 'out', no matter how far away they are. Whether they are family, friends, or people in need.

Less is more in decoration 

Sometimes we feel tempted to replace or add Christmas decoration items. Some lights don't look so great anymore, that ribbon has lost volume, those five red balls used to be a six-set, and the Christmas wreath on the door has seen better days... Actually, it is mostly a matter of perspective, because we do notice all those details, but that does not mean that our family or a visit will.  

And when adding Christmas decorations, we can also let our imagination run wild and come up with new ideas without having to rush to a store. Cardboard and paper can be easily repurposed as fake present packages or ornaments, with messages, poems, or the names of those family members and friends who will not be able to be present this year. A walk in the woods to decompress may also prove to be an excellent opportunity to find dry branches, pine cones and leaves, which you can then use on your Christmas tree, shelves, or centrepiece. Red, green or golden ribbons will also add a simple holiday-themed touch to your chairs, while one or two cushions of the right colour and a Christmas-themed blanket will have the same effect in the sofa area. 

In fact, reusing is a basic principle of sustainability, so carefully packing all Christmas decorations ensures that they can be used for years to come. Once taken out of their packaging, most things are very difficult to put back, so the trick is having empty boxes where you can keep your Christmas lights, balls, and other decoration items. The same goes for the tree, which was far too compressed in its original packaging. Like shoe boxes, the original boxes where your microwave and toaster came in can serve a new purpose. And you can store many small boxes in a slightly larger 'Christmas box' so that everything is kept separately without using a lot of extra space.

Too many Christmas trees 

This problem affects most families. Christmas trees are usually the main decoration item in a home, and they are supposed to dominate and congregate the entire set, but some questions assail us every year. Isn't it getting small and worn out? Wasn't that friend's tree absolutely amazing last year? Shouldn't we consider a real, more sustainable tree? Well, sustainability is always a good principle, but we should buy or change stuff only when we need to, not simply because we feel like it. If well taken care of, an artificial tree has the advantage of lasting many, many years. 

But if you really need a new tree - or if you don't have one yet - there are several options for those who really care about environmental sustainability. Have you ever considered renting an actual pine tree? Pinheiro Bombeiro is a project that provides that natural touch while also supporting firefighters - and all the people they help - and helping keep forests clean. It's not about cutting down trees indiscriminately for Christmas, but about cleaning up forests to help fight fires. The project was born after the major forest fires of 2017 and has been growing every year - so much so that it has already expanded from Lisbon to Porto, Leiria, Caldas da Rainha, and Torres Vedras. And in this pandemic year, you can get your pine tree from one of the available collection points or receive it at home. In January, simply return it so it can be turned into biomass. 

Another environment-friendly option, for those who have a garden or access to adequate land, is to buy a potted pine tree, which can be planted after the holiday season. 

Finally, if you don't have space at home or are not a big fan of Christmas trees, you can simply evoke one on a wall. Just 'draw' the outline of a pine tree or spruce and fill in that space with simple decoration, photos, ribbons, postcards, small pictures... In short, anything that fits in the outline and makes it easier to imagine the tree. It doesn't take up space, it serves its purpose, and in the end you can simply take it off or rearrange everything. 

All that glitters does not spend more energy 

It is during Christmas that energy consumption increases the most. This is due to the cooler temperatures, decorations, lights, and increased kitchen use. Due to the pandemic, this year's holiday season may be more restrained than usual, but Christmas always means spending more time at home. However, there are several solutions to reduce consumption in general, and energy consumption in particular. For those who are concerned about the electricity bill due to Christmas decorations, one of the options is to opt for LED or fiber optic lighting. It is more energy-efficient and delivers that same Christmas spirit. Rational lighting may also involve giving everyday lights and lamps a festive touch, so as not to increase consumption, or occasionally using Christmas lights as the main lighting source - like when you are relaxing on the sofa. 

There are also several tools to optimize the consumption of standby devices, such as button outlets, timers, or home automation systems. Regarding the latter, EDP's Re:dy app allows you to connect various devices to a 'box', making it possible to control them efficiently and remotely from a simple application on your smartphone or computer. And it isn't just for big houses with lots of appliances; there are packages of all kinds, meant for air conditioning, electric vehicles, solar panels, or garden equipment. 

Heating also increases energy consumption considerably, and we have some tips and tricks worth following in this respect. Well-insulated doors and windows retain heat, as do closed doors in empty rooms. Opening curtains on windows that are exposed to sunlight helps raise the room temperature, postponing the moment when it will become necessary to turn on the heat. And don't forget to close them once the sun is gone. Using blankets on the sofa, especially on TV evenings, is a simple way to stay warm without having to turn up the heat. And did you know that washing your feet with hot water before going to bed helps you sleep better and actually prevents colds? If you then add a classic hot water bag, well, even better. As for electrical equipment, an air conditioning system requires a bigger investment, but it is four times more efficient than an electric heater.

An oven can cook many dishes 

Portuguese people love to eat and cook. It is no coincidence that, according to Eurostat, Portugal is the European country where kitchen activities account for the biggest 'slice' of a family's overall energy consumption - 35.6% in 2018, more than in any other European country. And when Christmas arrives there are thousands of dishes and sweets to prepare, give, and savor. This can result in excessive food quantities, waste, and increased energy consumption. But there are several tricks to reduce food consumption and electricity bills while protecting the environment. 

When cooking, using more than one tray to optimize oven space is an excellent way to save energy; moreover, it will enable you to prepare more meals at once. But choosing the right appliances also helps you save money. If you want to heat a glass of milk or a cup of tea, for example, using the microwave is the best option, but if you are making tea for the whole family, then an electric kettle is preferable. A stove can be a good alternative when heating food from the refrigerator that takes a long time to reach the right temperature in the microwave. 

And since we are talking about refrigerators (or freezers), it is worth pointing out that controlling the opening of doors and not keeping it too empty or full also helps cut energy use.  If your refrigerator shelves are getting empty, you can fill them with water bottles or even empty boxes to reduce the volume of cold air which is displaced by warmer air. Putting the frozen products you intend to use in the fridge some time in advance is a good way to keep them cool and use less energy. When storing food, using suitable, well-closed containers to keep everything tidy means spending less time in front of an open refrigerator. And although it is a myth that you should not put food into the fridge while it is still hot, it is true that refrigerating such food increases energy use.

Fight waste, buy local 

When going to the supermarket, having pre-planned menus and a shopping list for the holiday season helps prevent excessive buying. Buying just the right quantity to avoid leftovers or spoiled food in the refrigerator or pantry is a small step towards a sustainable future, not only because it reduces food waste but also because it uses less packaging. 

Knowing that Christmas is a season of plenty, it is important to think of ways of reusing leftovers to create new dishes. Many traditional Portuguese recipes are precisely that - leftover recipes. 

And why not give that food to those who need it the most? There are collection points and restaurants that accept Christmas food and then give it to people in need; you can look for them in your area. In that case, excess Christmas food may be a blessing. 

On another topic, department stores are the quickest way to do your Christmas shopping, but if you devote some time to it, you can easily find almost everything you need closer to home. Buying from local stores, grocery stores or farmers' markets helps the local economy and could even save some small businesses in this difficult year. 

Whether it is food or Christmas presents (clothing, shoes, handicrafts), buying domestic products can also have a huge impact, if nothing else because of the word-of-mouth chain reaction a well-chosen gift can unleash. And even if you spend a little more here and there, you will be saving the time and money (fuel, parking or public transport) that traveling to a more remote shopping area would require. Not to mention the lower exposure risks during a pandemic.

Out of the box presents 

There are many ways to surprise your loved ones with a thoughtful and inexpensive gift. Especially for that family member who does not seem to like anything or that special friend who seems to have everything. Or simply when you don't have the necessary inspiration or really don't want - out of necessity or conviction - to join in the consumerism wave. 

A few hours of work in the kitchen will produce delicious sweets, jams, cookies, biscuits, flavored olive oil, or even personalized tea mixes and infusions. There are numerous possibilities for any of these options, the ingredients are easily available in your area, and you can even reuse old jars and bottles to create a season-themed design with fabric, ribbons, and personalized labels. Unless it is a family secret, sticking the recipe on a label or a tag is a thoughtful touch, if only to avoid being asked for a new 'batch' a few weeks later. 

And if you do have to buy gifts, it does not mean you have to chase the latest trend. You can offer experiences, such as tickets to museums or shows, which sometimes (as in the case of MAAT) have gift cards for that very purpose. Online workshops focusing on topics such as cooking, wine, magic, makeup and photography, or even language courses, are easily available experiences that make for an excellent gift, especially during a pandemic. And why not offer a digital subscription to a newspaper or magazine, or a monthly subscription to a streaming service? But if you believe that the ability to touch an actual object is paramount, you can always look for second-hand clothes or items: reusing is indeed one of the pillars of sustainability. Maybe you will find that book you loved years ago at a second-hand bookstore, or maybe you still have it today and it's time for it to find a new owner. 

For children, or with the help of your children, you can also create fun games, such as Moving Monopoly or small card boxes for a mime game. Or even handmade books, the beginning of a story for the child to complete. Just grab a nice white notebook - or make your own with a cardboard cover and a string to hold the sheets in place - and start a story on the first pages. The rest is up to the recipient. The child can continue the plot as their imagination dictates and decorate the pages with their own drawings.

For the gift wrapping, finding the perfect paper can be almost as difficult as choosing a gift. It is also usually a waste, torn in seconds and put in the trash. Here, too, there are ways to get around the issue. Newspaper sheets, brown paper or parchment paper to wrap and jute yarn or ribbons from a haberdashery to decorate give that special touch of dedication.

Thinking about the little ones, white sheets and colourful toy stamps guarantee a moment of family relaxation that results in a unique wrapping paper. There is no way to fail. And you can also give your children large sheets to draw and paint as you wish, then used to wrap gifts.

A time to help others 

If Christmas is a time for sharing, caring about those who need it the most is even more important in this pandemic year. You may even know someone in that situation and help them with a small Christmas hamper. As a family, you may even reduce the number of gifts with that purpose in mind. If you don't know whom to help, you can look for organizations near you or ask the local council if there is a charity program you can support. For example, BIPP-Semear - an association that helps and trains people with disabilities - sells charity hampers online and then gives them to families in need. Compra Solidária is a platform that brings together hundreds of items of all kinds - from t-shirts to toys, from jams to books and gift cards - sold by associations, NGOs and other organizations, or the proceeds of which are then given to causes associated with the item itself. 

With a few small steps, some imagination and creativity, a good measure of planning and a lot of reuse, it is easy to have a more sustainable Christmas and save some money while still surprising your family or friends.  

And you can also use these tips all year round, for if Christmas is whenever you want, so are saving, sustainability, and charity.