Aiming to facilitate ecological transition, for 30 years ADEME has been committed to the fight against climate change and resource degradation. On its website, the national agency provides recommendations to guide and support citizens, economic actors, territories, researchers, etc.

Through three qualities — expertise, usefulness, and openness — the agency aims to help consumers at year’s end when everyone is preparing for the holidays. Without losing the party spirit and while avoiding becoming synonymous with restrictions and prohibitions, the key word here is “thriftiness.”

According to ADEME, 72% of French people say the end-of-year celebrations are important, 61% say they are a convivial moment to share with close friends and family. However, the agency points out, only 41% of French people associate the year-end celebrations with a period of high environmental impact. It is this impact that ADEME wishes to reduce by presenting "a panorama of practices that are more eco-responsible, taking into account their acceptability and their perceived effectiveness".

ADEME proposes a list of “gifts to please loved ones and the planet” and provides advice so that “the gift we give to loved ones is also a gift for the environment.”

Among these recommendations:

• the gift should first of all be useful, “by favoring that which can serve forever”, for example books or plants for the garden, or by choosing “edible items”, for example “a basket filled with organic products local, organic and fair-trade chocolate”;
•  the gift can be “greener” by privileging environmentally-certified products;
• non-material gifts can also be given. ADEME suggests for example cooking lessons, a discovery weekend nearby or in neighboring regions, a subscription to a cultural service (museum, theatre), or tickets to a nearby concert, etc.
• the gift can also be “second-hand”. The second-hand market, according to ADEME, is “in full development and more and more French people are using it throughout the year.”

As far as toys are concerned, ADEME suggests three golden rules: as little plastic material as possible, no perfumes in toys (which can be allergenic) and finally, no batteries!

The holidays are about gift-giving, but also good meals! For Christmas, according to ADEME, 81% of French people organize a festive meal versus 66% for the New Year. With many people at the table, try not to generate waste! To avoid this pitfall, ADEM again provides some advice:

• cook in reasonable quantities;
• replace certain foods with others that have less environment impact (seasonal vegetables and local products);
• use quality products: according to ADEME, it is better to favor quality over quantity!

End-of-year celebrations call for well-planned decorations. Accessory number 1: the Christmas tree of course. How to choose it?

• opt for a more local fir tree, grown on “dedicated plots and not cut in a forest”. Take note, warns ADEME, when the holidays are, do not leave the tree on the sidewalk but instead take it to a collection point;
• consider keeping a tree alive in a pot, but don’t delay in replanting it;
• use an artificial tree, which can be reused from one year to the next, but keep in mind that “the plastic models are mainly made in Asia from petroleum” ...

As for decorations, ADEME estimates that 4.2 million households install lighted decorations that they leave on throughout the holiday period. The agency therefore recommends LED light garlands which are less “energy-hungry.”

Other decoration ideas and recommendations:

• make use of natural elements (holly branches, ivy, mistletoe, pine cones) or natural recycled materials (paper, wood, cork);
• avoid disposable products, such as paper or non-woven tablecloths, disposable plates and cutlery, as well as gold or silver confetti...

"Whether you have chosen to be a little or very eco-responsible,

Campus France wishes you a very happy holiday season!"

• The ADEME press release
• The environmental impacts of the end-of-year celebrations
• Tutorial: How to organize a greener Christmas