Is an ethical Christmas even possible?

[thatblue]

I have 3 DC, twin 6 year old DD's and a 14 year old DS. Christmas is quickly approaching and I have no idea how I'm supposed to do this!

DS has asked for an Xbox and a few games, which I have agreed on with the limitations of it being in the playroom, and him only playing appropriate games if the girls are also in there.

I have no idea what to buy my DD's! It's my first Christmas trying to be ethical and zero waste, but all the toys they want seem like plastic crap! They seem too old now for most wooden toys, so I'm really stumped.

I'm also not sure on a Christmas tree. Obviously the DC want one, but DH is allergic to pine needles so I can't get a real one, and I desperately am avoiding getting a plastic one.

Any tips?

Can you get a second hand plastic one and just keep it for years?

calvins I suppose that would be an option, but I'm trying to go as plastic free as possible. If I could get one that could last a few years it would probably be alright, though.

I got a big houseplant one year and decorated it like it was a tree.

We each have gift bags we re-use every Xmas/birthday. Some people do cloth ones, our ones are just paper/card but appropriate to each person.

Do lots of things that emphasise the time together angle of Xmas- long walks, Christmas baking, boards games, making paper decorations.

As you’re giving your DS an XBox, I don’t think you can insist on Zero plastic for your daughters’ presents as at that age they won’t get why he can have plastic but they can’t. But pick one thing with plastic, preferably something that will last a long time and not be discarded quickly.

I got a realistic baby doll at that age, it’s what I wanted (I know it’s very gendered, but I think I was trying to communicate I wanted a baby brother sister really). Cuddly/soft toys are also good at that age and don’t have to be plasticky. There is also the option of sports/outdoor play equipment which doesn’t have to be plastic, can be wood/metal, e.g. a sledge.

Ting I know that the Xbox is plastic, but I feel like at his age it'll last much longer than toys, especially with what my daughters are like!

I like the idea of baby dolls and the such, I remember having one that I took everywhere with me at that point!

We're also lucky to have a very large garden, and my DH likes having something to do so I may ask him if he wants to build them a little play house at the back of the garden, or we could get them a nice big wooden playset. I'm just not sure if they'd be disappointed at the lack of presents, even though it's a big present!

Our Christmas tree has lasted ten years and I have no intention of throwing it out anytime soon

I understand that re the plastic thatblue, I’m making the point that your six year old daughters might see it as hypocrisy or favoritism or that you are prepared to sacrifice their joy for your principles but not their brother’s. And react accordingly. That little girls have to be happy with what they are given, but big boys get what they want.

You mention they might be disappointed by the lack of presents. Well adddress that. Be fair, don’t discriminate.

And above all don’t give them the impression that principles apply to some people not to others, or you will do more harm than good.

I know it's plastic but Lego lasts forever my mum still hasn't Lego from when I was a child 45 years ago my DD and my niece still play with it at her house also it sells for pretty much purchase price if you keep box and instructions it can do reused and sold on not like most plastic which will be in landfill by Easter

One of our daughters went ethical last year, all presents wrapped in brown paper or cut up magazines to make collage, adding simple paper decorations to brighten things up if necessary.

There's a difference between one use plastic and things like Teacups suggestion of Lego.

Maybe second hand playmobil for the girls? It'll last them the rest of their childhoods and can then be sold on. Yes it's plastic but certainly not tat.

Wooden food/play kitchen type stuff? A wooden dolls house? A wooden easel? Picture books, dress up stuff? The little ones I've worked with have absolutely loved the real doctors kit I use with them. Real medical equipment (stethoscope, blood pressure gauge, otoscope etc) and all the bandages and syringes I could want from my sister, who's a vet. Unlike plastic toy ones real stuff lasts long term.

I agree that there's plastic and then there's plastic. Lego is a brilliant gift, lasts for years in terms of the child playing with it, is easy to sell on or donate when they're done, is packaged in cardboard, etc etc. Same with Playmobil. Then there's second-hand stuff (my SIL got masses of Barbie stuff for DN for a tenner on a local site, ok Barbie's not my bag but DN will be thrilled and that's stuff not going in the bin...)

There's reducing your plastic use (entirely a good idea) and being a bit inconsistent about banning plastic... two different things.

We have an artificial Christmas tree and its over 15 years old. Still looking good but we take great care in storing it.

Im wrapping presents in brown paper this year and use decorative tape and made tags out of last year's Christmas cards.

We also made our own advent calendar which has little questions/facts and tasks in for them such as buy items for food bank project at school, choose a charity of choice to donate money to ( they have to say why etc..) and a few other random kind acts.

We are also doing a charity fun race with the whole of the family.

Just a few things but we are trying to get away from the commercial frenzy that is Christmas and hopefully instill kindness in the DC ( 13 and 15)

I have just been into a city branch of Oxfam and it had some great stuff in there. They had rows of Christmas jumpers and were doing a brisk trade. I thought that was lovely to see.

Ethics are everything from stretchy to absolute. If you try and have a totally no impact Christmas, then yes it’s impossible unless you are prepared to change your definition of how you celebrate.
But if your minded to you can make lots of changes to make less environmental impact, and to not buy into greed too much.
Organic turkey, limit presents, make presents that will be consumed so limit waste. No wrapping, no cards, no lights on your tree, you can take it as far as you want.

Just avoid single use plastic that's a great start

Be ethical in your food wrapping choices, go to the Grocer or market with a net, a basket or any other bag, cook from scratch but don't make the mistake of thinking of plastic as your worse enemy.
Anyone who has been in a hospital, had an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound , infusion, surgery,..... none of this would be possible with wood, glass or steel.
So I think it should be fair to also see the advances we benefit from thanks to plastic.
If you really want to make an impact, you should avoid any meat this Christmas as industrial cattle farming is far more responsible for climate change than cars, train, planes and industrial machines put together.

This said, one of the greatest toy ever my sons enjoyed was - and still is - Kapla.

avoid any meat this Christmas as industrial cattle farming is far more responsible for climate change than cars, train, planes and industrial machines put together

Logic suggests then we should source a butcher who doesn't sell industrial produced turkeys, which is what we do.

Also the statement is not credible and many vegans don't accept that scenario. US Environment Protection Agency published figures for Gas Emissions in 2016, 9% for agriculture, 28% for transportation.

Well anyone’s interested on the impact of industrial farming can check Wikipedia for unbiased references en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_meat_production

My comment was referred to a mum stressing about ethical toys and I wanted to tell her not all plastic is bad and in the same way not all meat is bad, but cutting bacon and ham for example would have a far greater impact on climate change, antibiotic resistances, land and water pollution and so on.
You can’t just pick how and where you want to be ethical. No to plastic toys but yes to Christmas ....
I also wanted to speak up in the defence of fuel industry. Your phone/ tablet/ pc/ Mac wouldn’t be there without them, most of your medicine cabinet ditto, as said all diagnostic imaging, key hole surgery, ... it is about having the right balance.
So if a box of LEGO would make your dc happy, go for it without guilt.
The OP had shown a commitment in reducing her impact, there are many ways including dietary ones.

I think there is a bit difference between full on tacky plastic consumerism and just doing what you can

Like others have said, buy less but quality. Wrap in non glitter paper, send less cards, eat less pre packaged, buy less one time use items.

For your twins maybe some ragdoll type soft dolls, a wooden dolls house but with sylvanian figures, a bird house or feeder they can paint, books, garden swing or garden games, board games, art and crafts etc.

We will have a small real tree, otherwise most decorations are years old in various materials. Will add some garden foliage, oranges, pinecones etc collected locally. Maybe get your children to make their own wreaths

Second hand is the key here for your younger one! eBay or local FB selling sites have loads - we found a local family offloading tons of full Lego sets, plus board games and dolls are often barely used. Same with the tree, though at this stage good quality second hand plastic ones are probably gone - can you get one that you can replant?

OP, I know someone who wont have an xmas tree for similar reasons. They just get hold of a twiggy branch, and then decorate as usual. It gets cut up and put on the compost.

In my county, all Christmas trees are collected by the local council from the kerbside and recycled, as is all garden and food waste. They produce compost on a commercial scale. So I don’t think we need to feel guilty about having a real tree, produced from sustainable local forestry.
If you use non glitter, non plastic-coated wrapping and cards, these all go in the recycle bin too.
If you get plastic presents, choose ones that are durable and can be passed down the family or given to charity shops (like Lego, or board games, or collectible sets)
Buy vegetables loose instead of plastic wrapped. Don’t buy excessive Xmas food, and use leftovers for buffet lunches or cooked up as stews.
It’s perfectly possible to have an ethical Christmas- or at least a good attempt at one! And even more ethical if you make a donation to charity in the spirit of Christmas, or support your local church services over the season, as they raise funds for worthy causes too.