Tips for a circular and waste-free Christmas

By Lucas Machado, Betini Comunicação

A survey by the National Confederation of Store Managers (CNDL) and the Credit Protection Service (SPC Brasil) shows that 33.8 million consumers plan to allocate half of their year-end bonus to buying gifts and celebrating the end of the year. 

For Edson Grandisoli, ambassador and pedagogical coordinator of the Circular Movement, with a Master’s in Ecology and a PhD in Education and Sustainability from the University of São Paulo (USP), this trend can take on a more sustainable meaning if consumers bet on non-physical gifts and more conscious consumption practices.

“Holiday and vacation periods naturally bring an increase in consumption. Giving gifts to the people you love and live with is part of the rituals of this time of year. However, Christmas is also a time for reflection. So why not take this moment to reflect on our consumption and its impacts? Telling people not to consume can seem a bit radical, but I believe this is a great time to exercise more conscious—or reduced—consumption,” he explains. The proposal includes reflecting on the number of gifts, waste from holiday meals, and excessive use of packaging. “Gifts can be experiences, such as theater tickets or museum visits,” he adds.

The circular economy also involves encouraging conscious choices and rethinking our consumption. 

“It’s important to ‘get out of autopilot’ and analyze each choice we make from the perspective of, for example, waste generation. Do we really need to produce a pile of wrapping paper (usually non-recyclable) at the end of the festivities? Circularity is not only about reducing waste and recycling, but also about choosing manufacturers truly engaged in circular economy principles, selecting more socially and environmentally friendly products, valuing locally made goods, and, finally, managing the waste we generate responsibly,” says Edson.

He also notes that high consumption is linked to greenhouse gas emissions. 

“The greater the consumption, the more waste we tend to generate - and, with that, we also contribute to climate change,” he emphasizes.

Small changes, big impacts

For Edson, small adjustments in daily life can generate significant effects. 

“A key point is for people to understand that all individual choices matter, as they in some way affect the collective. Seeking information, looking for tips, and being inspired by good practices from people around you are great ways to do things differently and better,” he observes.

Four tips for a more circular Christmas

• Give experiences—tickets or outings—that create memories, not waste;
• Buy from small producers and strengthen the local economy;
• Avoid waste: plan your holiday meal and use reusable or recyclable packaging (or none at all);
• Manage waste responsibly and turn organic waste into compost.

*This text was automatically translated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed. Still, there may be slight differences compared to the original version in Portuguese.