Sustainable Christmas decorations are items you can reuse for many years, made from natural, recycled, or ethically sourced materials, and paired with energy-efficient lighting like LEDs or solar string lights. Simple swaps—such as renting a living tree, using recycled gift wrap, and making DIY orange garlands or cinnamon-stick ornaments—can dramatically cut waste and energy use during the holidays.
In my family, decorating for Christmas has always been a cherished tradition—a time when we come together to turn our home into something truly special. But as the years have passed, I’ve become more aware of the hidden environmental cost behind our glittering tinsel, shimmering baubles, and twinkling lights.
This year, I’d love for you to pause before buying new decorations and ask a simple question: How sustainable is this? The good news is that you don’t have to choose between festive and eco-friendly.
From crafting unique upcycled ornaments to switching to LED or solar string lights, this guide will walk you through practical, beautiful ways to decorate more sustainably, so your Christmas can feel just as joyful—and a lot kinder to the planet.
Key Takeaways: Tips for Sustainable Christmas Decoration Ideas
- Prioritize Longevity and Quality: Choose decorations that are durable, reusable, and timeless. Quality items that last for years reduce waste and environmental impact.
- Get Creative with Eco-Friendly Decor Ideas: Renting a living Christmas tree, using recycled gift wrapping, and crafting upcycled decorations add a unique touch while lowering your ecological footprint.
- Focus on Energy Efficiency and Ethics: Use LED or solar-powered lights and look for decorations with Fair Trade or ethical certifications where possible.
- Upcycle What You Already Have: Old cards, boxes, jars, and scrap fabric can become beautiful, meaningful decorations with a bit of creativity.
- Think End-of-Life: Choose items that can be recycled, composted, or safely reused, and dispose of old lights and electronics responsibly.
10 Practical Sustainable Christmas Decoration Ideas You Can Use This Year
Sustainable Christmas decorations are eco-friendly holiday décor made from natural, recycled, or reusable materials and paired with low-energy lighting to cut waste and carbon emissions without losing any festive charm.
Think rented or potted trees, plastic-free ornaments, upcycled garlands, recycled gift wrap, and LED or solar Christmas lights you can reuse year after year.
Here are the ten tips I have accumulated over the past few years that can make your Christmas a lot more eco-friendly.
1. Rent a Christmas Tree Instead of Buying
Renting a living Christmas tree in a pot is one of the most sustainable ways to enjoy a real tree without the waste.
Traditional real trees are cut down and discarded after a few weeks, and artificial trees are usually made from plastic that lasts for centuries in landfills.
When you rent a tree:
- You get a real tree in a large pot that can continue growing after the holidays.
- You avoid the polluting plastic of artificial trees.
- You still enjoy that amazing fresh pine smell in your home.
Most rental services collect the tree after Christmas and care for it until the next season, so you can enjoy a festive tree without the long-term environmental cost.
2. Choose Recycled or Reusable Gift Wrapping
Switching to recycled or reusable gift wrap significantly cuts holiday paper waste.
A few years ago, I collected all our wrapping paper after Christmas in one bag and weighed it. The amount shocked my kids—and me. It was a powerful reminder of how much we throw away in just one day.
To reduce waste:
- Choose recycled or recyclable wrapping paper.
- Avoid shiny, glittery paper that often can’t be recycled.
- Invest in reusable gift boxes, tins, and fabric bags you can use year after year.
The larger your household, the more difference this can make. The holiday season really shouldn’t be about being wasteful.
3. Make a Dried Orange Garland
Dried orange garlands are beautiful, biodegradable decorations that fill your home with a subtle festive scent.
Here’s how to make them:
- Buy a few medium-sized oranges.
- Slice them into even rounds and place them on kitchen paper to remove excess juice.
- Arrange the slices on a baking tray and dry them in the oven at about 250°F (120°C) until they’re completely dehydrated.
- Once cooled, thread them onto string or twine to create a garland.
Hang your garland on the tree, across windows, or along a mantel. When the season is over, you can compost them instead of throwing plastic decor into the trash.
4. Decorate with Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon sticks make simple, natural decorations that add a warm holiday scent to your home.
To use them:
- Tie two or three cinnamon sticks together with festive ribbon and hang them as ornaments.
- Use them as decorative elements on your dining table, napkin rings, or place settings.
The smell is subtle and not overpowering, but it instantly sets a cozy, festive mood.
5. Switch to Eco-Friendly Christmas Crackers
Eco-friendly Christmas crackers reduce plastic waste while keeping the fun at the table.
Traditional crackers are often:
- Made from mixed materials that are hard to recycle.
- Filled with cheap plastic toys that go straight into the bin.
More sustainable options include:
- DIY crackers using saved wrapping paper or kraft paper.
- Store-bought eco-friendly crackers made from recycled, recyclable materials and filled with useful, plastic-free gifts.
Yes, you may pay a little more, but having something genuinely usable inside makes them more enjoyable for everyone.
6. Create a DIY Reusable Advent Calendar
A homemade, reusable advent calendar is a fun way to count down to Christmas without endless single-use packaging.
You probably have many chances during the year to save small cardboard boxes from deliveries or food packaging. Here’s how to turn them into a calendar:
- Collect 24 small boxes or paper bags.
- Wrap them in reused or recycled paper from last year.
- Number them from 1 to 24.
- Hang them on strings, place them on a shelf, or arrange them in a basket.
- Fill them with small treats, handwritten notes, or activity ideas.
I originally got this idea from PaperKawaii. Kids often love these much more than store-bought calendars filled with toys they rarely use.
7. Upcycle Old Christmas Cards
Upcycling old Christmas cards gives them a second life as unique decorations.
Some ideas:
- Cut out shapes or sections from the front of old cards and use them as gift tags or tree ornaments.
- Decorate gift boxes with card cutouts for a one-of-a-kind look.
- Turn folded cards into place settings for holiday dinners by writing names on them.
This simple habit reduces waste and makes your decor more personal and creative. Another great idea is to use them as place settings if you’re hosting a party over the holiday season.
8. Use Solar String Lights This Year
Solar string lights combine festive sparkle with lower energy use and emissions.
Traditional older lights can use a surprising amount of electricity, especially if you leave them on for hours each evening. Solar string lights:
- Come with a small solar panel and a battery pack.
- Charge during the day on a windowsill or outside.
- Glow for hours in the evening without adding to your electricity bill
You can find solar options for both indoor and outdoor use, helping you decorate more sustainably.
9. Add Solar-Powered Outdoor Decorations
Solar-powered outdoor decorations let you light up your garden or balcony without extra energy consumption.
There are plenty of options:
- Pathway lights along your driveway or walkway.
- Solar stakes shaped like Santa, reindeer, or stars.
- Decorative lights for patio furniture, fences, or trees.
I added solar pathway lights to our garden a couple of years ago, and they’ve become one of my favorite sustainable touches. They recharge by day and twinkle by night—no plugs, no extra wires, no guilt.
10. Recycle Your Old Christmas Lights Responsibly
When Christmas lights or electronic decorations finally stop working, recycle them instead of throwing them in the trash.
Even high-quality lights will eventually fail or be replaced by newer, more efficient models. When that happens:
- Look for local e-waste recycling programs or drop-off points.
- Use mail-in recycling services where available to handle old strings and light sets.
These services strip lights into raw materials that can be safely disposed of or reused, reducing the environmental burden of electronic waste.
Are Traditional Christmas Decorations Sustainable?
Most traditional Christmas decorations are not very sustainable because they’re made from non-recyclable plastics and use energy-hungry lighting.
The Plastic Predicament in Festive Decor
Most decorations found in stores—from baubles to window adornments—are predominantly plastic.
This creates two big problems:
- Durability and Waste: Many plastic decorations are cheap and fragile, so they break and get thrown away after just a season or two. Holiday waste can spike dramatically between late November and early January, and disposable décor is a big part of that.
- Recycling Challenges: Mixed plastics, glitter, and coatings usually mean these items can’t be recycled. They end up in landfills or, worse, in our oceans, contributing to global plastic pollution.
The Hidden Energy Cost of Traditional Lights
Older Christmas lights usually:
- Consume significantly more electricity than modern LED alternatives.
- Need more frequent replacement due to shorter lifespans.
When I audited my own household’s old Christmas lights, the energy use was startling. Replacing them with LED lights made a clear difference in our energy consumption—and in how often we had to buy replacements.
Sustainable Alternatives: A Better Way Forward
The good news is that you don’t have to give up festive decor:
- Choose natural materials like wood, paper, fabric, and dried plants.
- Invest in durable, timeless decorations you’ll love for years.
- Switch to LED or solar-powered lights for better efficiency and longer life.
These swaps help you keep the magic of Christmas without the environmental downsides.
What Makes a Christmas Decoration Sustainable?
A sustainable Christmas decoration is one that is long-lasting, made from responsibly sourced or recycled materials, and uses minimal or efficient energy.
When choosing or creating decorations, here’s what to consider:
Prioritize Reusability
The cornerstone of sustainable decor is longevity.
- Choose decorations you can use year after year without them breaking or going out of style.
- Opt for classic designs over fast trends.
Remember those times you opened a box of decorations and found broken pieces? Investing in durable pieces reduces waste and helps build meaningful traditions.
Seek Fair Trade & Ethical Materials
If you’re buying new decorations, especially food-based ones like candy canes or advent treats, look for:
- Fair Trade or similar ethical certifications.
- Brands that clearly state their sourcing and labor practices.
This ensures that your decorations are kinder to both the planet and the people who produce them.
Embrace Upcycled and Recycled Decorations
Some of the most eco-friendly decorations are the ones you make yourself from what you already have:
- Old cardboard turns into stars, garlands, or tree toppers.
- Recycled paper becomes origami ornaments or paper chains.
- Glass jars become candle holders or mini winter scenes.
In my household, we love setting aside weekends after Thanksgiving to upcycle materials into new decorations. It’s creative, fun, and a beautiful way to slow down together.
When buying new items, look for:
- Decorations made from recycled metal, glass, or plastic.
- Brands that highlight their use of recycled or reclaimed materials.
Look for Energy Efficient Certification
For any light-up decor:
- Prioritize LED lights over older incandescent ones.
- Look for energy efficiency certifications where available.
LEDs use far less electricity and typically last much longer. As a bonus, they come in many colors and styles, allowing you to create any mood you like.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The most ethical way to have a Christmas tree is to keep a live tree or rent a tree. This will avoid unnecessarily cutting down a tree that will then just die. If you have the space in the yard, then plant a potted pine tree and simply bring it into your home for Christmas.
You can put up large Christmas ornaments instead of a Christmas tree. People who live in small apartments often put up a cardboard tree on the wall and add simple decorations and a garland to get the same effect.
It’s more environmentally friendly to have a real Christmas tree that you keep alive. Rather than cut it down, simply keep it in a pot in your garden. Fake Christmas trees have huge carbon footprints, and you’d need to use one for over 15 years to make that pay off.
You can decorate your Christmas tree without spending money by upcycling household materials. If you spend a couple of months collecting paper, glass, and cardboard, you can then use different arts and crafts techniques to create your own decorations.
The five-gift rule is about giving someone something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and something they don’t know they want or need. It’s a great way to make a huge impression, and ideally, you would find locally sourced gifts.
Embrace a Greener Celebration with Sustainable Christmas Decor
Transitioning to sustainable Christmas decorations is simpler than it sounds. It starts with reusing what you already have, like upcycling candle holders or turning old cards into new decor, and enjoying creative moments with family as you make your own decorations.
Before you start buying anything new, take a moment to:
- Evaluate what you already own.
- Ask, “Can this be repurposed or refreshed?”
- Choose energy-efficient lighting like solar-powered or LED string lights.
Remember, every choice matters. Instead of discarding unused items, look for ways to donate, recycle, or reuse them. Our decorations don’t just reflect our holiday spirit—they also reflect our commitment to the planet.
This festive season, let’s celebrate responsibly and joyfully, knowing our sustainable choices are helping create a healthier, more mindful world.
