Tips & Tricks for Your Sustainable Christmas + Recipes

Actually, we want to relax and unwind during the Christmas season. However, the Christmas hustle and bustle often doesn't allow for it. The mantra "less is more" often seems not to apply during this month.
Ultimately, however, it is up to us how we design our time, how much we allow ourselves to be consumed by pre-Christmas stress and shopping frenzy, and how we plan our Christmas celebrations. We wish you a calm and serene pre-Christmas season this year, along with a beautiful and sustainable Christmas with our loved ones.

Today, we want to share how we can achieve this with our simple and sustainable gift ideas and tips for a more sustainable Christmas.

Tips for Sustainable Gifts

Do I Really Need This?

Before diving into the Christmas shopping craze, ask yourself a simple question: Does the recipient really need it? Most of us already have far too many belongings. Therefore, if you are considering buying something new, be attentive to acquiring durable items or those that can genuinely be utilized or consumed.

Courage to Reduce – Sustainable Gifting

Many people remember this from their school days, but it is becoming increasingly popular in larger families: Secret Santa. Instead of buying 20 different gifts and subjecting yourself to the stress of brainstorming for gift shopping, consider focusing on one person and one gift. The benefit is clear: you can spend more time on the whole process, engage more with the wishes and needs of the individual, and truly find the perfect gift. This is the key to a sustainable and, above all, relaxed Christmas.

Sustainable Christmas – Give the Gift of Time

Time – one of the most precious resources, for which many of us wish we had more. So why not give some time together? Enjoy breakfast together, go to the cinema, museum, concerts, or simply take a walk. Discover new places, sights, and people together, and create shared memories.

Sustainable Packaging for Christmas Gifts

On average, individuals use 60 kg of paper per year; in Germany alone, that number is even 250 kg! There are already numerous ways to save a bit at this point.

Wrap your Christmas presents this year in old newspaper, tea towels, or homemade beeswax cloth. Not only is this better for the environment, but it can also be personalized by, for instance, using the sports section of the newspaper or circling individual letters to leave a secret message. Packaging like tea towels, beeswax wraps, containers, jars, or baskets can be reused immediately after gifting and also looks stylish.

Donations Instead of Gifts – Doing Good Together

Like us, making a donation on behalf of someone else is a wonderful idea. Your recipient may already be donating frequently to a particular organization or would like to contribute more. Why not just make a donation?

Sustainable Shopping – Online and Offline

It doesn't always have to be Amazon. Just do a bit of browsing, and you will find many more sustainable alternatives, particularly from local businesses that sell their homemade products online. For example, do you know avocadostore.at, myproduct.at, unverschwend.at, or wienerseife.at?

You can find great products not only online. Nowadays, many cities have some fantastic second-hand shops. From fashion to unique decorative items, the possibilities are endless here.

DIY Gifts – Use Your Own Talent!

Do you enjoy drawing, pottery, cooking, or photography? Have you discovered your passion for upcycling? Utilize your hobbies and talents to create personal and original gifts.

Sustainable Verival Gift Ideas

It doesn't always have to be something new, because the most beautiful gifts are those that come straight from the heart. Homemade gifts also provide many opportunities to personalize the present and tailor it to your preferences. Let your creativity flow – from the contents to the packaging.

We want to introduce you to 3 simple gift ideas for breakfast lovers:

Homemade Christmas Toppings Recipe – Roasted Verival Nuts

While we prefer to enhance our muesli, crunchy, or porridge with fresh regional fruits in the summer, we prefer a more festive touch in winter. Our Verival nuts are perfect as a topping!

It's simple: bring sugar and water to a boil in a pan, add a bit of cinnamon or vanilla. Add the nuts to the pan and keep stirring until the sugar becomes dry. Then lower the heat to medium and stir until the sugar starts to melt slightly and the almonds shine. Finally, spread the nuts on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let cool.

Verival Waffle or Pancake Mix in a Jar

Admittedly, you can now purchase many baking mixes available. However, creating it yourself offers the chance to personalize the mix entirely. For instance, you can consider dietary preferences: Is the recipient vegan? Are they avoiding sugar? What flavors do they love the most? You can easily adjust or enhance this recipe to suit anyone. Explore our entire breakfast selection and find the perfect product for every taste.

To make the baking mixture a bit more festive, consider adding some cinnamon or vanilla sugar. When ready to use, simply mix the baking mixture with approximately 100 ml of milk, plant-based drink, or water.

You can find more

recipe ideas for the Christmas season from lovely Lena Fuchs, such as healthy rawreos, on the Verival blog.

Verival Gift Sets

Do you know someone who loves our products but can't decide which one to gift? Our Verival gift sets are the perfect solution. We are excited to introduce our Porridge Gift Sets, complete with a bowl!

How to Make Your Christmas Sustainable

Driving Home for Christmas

A sustainable Christmas starts for us on our journey home. Again, you can consider your choices: train or car? While we know that trains can be crowded, especially just before or during Christmas, reserving a seat is inexpensive, and you can use the time to unwind with a good book, for example.

Sustainable Christmas – Homemade Decorations

Of course, you could update your Christmas tree with the latest trends every year. However, the more sustainable option would be to simply reuse last year's decorations. Furthermore, there are numerous ways to create Christmas decorations yourself. For instance, you could make a garland or tree ornaments from dried orange slices. And what has happened to the once-popular straw stars? We believe they need a comeback!

Many Advent markets emphasize organic products, local sourcing, handmade specialties, and creative homemade art. This can be a wonderful source of inspiration for Christmas decorations or gifts, and you might find something unique.

Sustainability at Christmas Dinner

You're likely all too familiar with the extravagant family celebrations filled with an excess of food, leaving you lying on the couch, stuffed and uncomfortable. Especially during the reflective Christmas season, it might be time to reconsider these scenarios critically. A lovely meal with family should not be linked to waste and discomfort.

It would make more sense to carefully consider portions and, most importantly, the contents of the Christmas meal. Because often, the good stuff is right around the corner – create a feast highlighting regional delicacies!

Whether through Christmas decorations, festive meals, or thoughtful gifts, we can all contribute positively to our environment during this season without sacrificing enjoyment!

We wish you a peaceful and relaxing pre-Christmas time and a beautiful, sustainable Christmas!