Experts have told about ways to celebrate the New Year in an environmentally friendly way

The New Year is not only a joyous occasion, but also a period when the amount of waste increases rapidly. However, it is possible to make the holidays environmentally friendly, preserving their coziness, noted experts in the field of sustainable development of the chain of goods for construction and home improvement "Lemana PRO". The experts shared with Izvestia on December 25 simple and useful tips that will help to reduce the burden on the environment and make consumption during the New Year holidays more conscious and responsible.

Experts recommended a sensible approach to gift shopping.

"Give the right gift: instead of traditional souvenirs, choose something that will bring real benefit. Ask your loved ones what they would like to receive as a gift, or make a joint Wishlist," they advised.

In addition, the network noted that you should avoid shiny paper and ribbons, which immediately after unpacking the gift will go in the trash. A great alternative can be kraft paper and twine. At the same time, you can refuse from packaging at all.

Speaking about decorating the house and Christmas tree, experts noted that homemade decor is not only environmentally friendly, but also heartwarming. You can make New Year's toys and decor with your own hands: this will require natural materials, such as cones, dried flowers.

"Organize or participate in New Year swaps - exchanging toys and decor - with colleagues, neighbors or friends. This will add novelty to your holiday," the company advised.

In addition, you can choose energy-saving garlands, which consume much less energy. But you should remember to turn them off at night and when leaving the house.

"Give up clappers and fireworks in favor of quieter and safer ways to celebrate. For example, candles will create a cozy and festive atmosphere, and instead of noisy entertainment, you can organize contests, master classes or other creative activities," experts added.

At the same time, you can also approach the preparation of a festive dinner more consciously. So, a list of products made in advance will help to avoid unnecessary purchases.

"Try to cook as much as you can really eat - so you will avoid the formation of a large amount of food waste. Leftovers can be conveniently stored in reusable containers or frozen", - specified in "Lemana PRO".

They recommended to choose local products, especially those sold without packaging, and not to give in to the temptation of the campaign "take three, pay for two", if you really need only one product.

That said, once the holidays are over, it's worth considering recycling. Paper, glass and plastic can be taken to separate waste collection points, which are available in the stores of the retail chain. You can also find the nearest recycling collection points through Uberu and Recyclemap.

"[You should] drop off your live Christmas tree for recycling. In major cities there are temporary points of acceptance of Christmas trees within the framework of the project "Christmas tree cycle". For the convenience of citizens, a map of collection points in Moscow is available on the website of the project "Spruce Circle". Up-to-date information on the site can be found in early January. New Year trees acceptance points are also available on the Moscow government's open data portal. In St. Petersburg there are both temporary reception points and ecotaxis for the collection of Christmas trees", - explained in the company.

Earlier, on December 12, it was reported that Russians began to actively buy up New Year's sweets. This follows from the data of trading sites. Such gifts weighing 500-600 g cost this year Russians an average of 791 rubles, follows from the data of the analytical center "Check Index" of the company "Platform OFD". The average check for children's holiday sets of sweets has grown this year by 12-13%.