Christmas is a time of lights, celebrations, and gatherings... but also of skyrocketing consumption, pollution peaks, and a surge B waste. Although it often goes unnoticed, the environmental impact of this season is considerable and affects both air quality and global greenhouse gas emissions.
The good news is that we can continue to enjoy the holidays while reducing their environmental footprint. Here we review which activities pollute the most and what simple actions can make a difference.
1. mobility: the main manager increased emissions
During the Christmas season, travel increases significantly. Trips to visit family, go shopping, or attend fill the roads and generate a significant increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and CO₂ emissions.
What can you do?
- Prioritize public transportation for urban travel.
- Carpool whenever possible.
- Choose to walk or cycle for short distances.
- On long trips, prioritize trains over planes.
These are small decisions that, when multiplied by thousands of people, significantly reduce pollution in cities.
2. The rise of online shopping and the “last mile”
Online shopping skyrockets in December. Although it may reduce some individual trips, it generates a large flow of delivery vans, often traveling with suboptimal loads, which generally use old, highly polluting diesel vehicles. Added to this is the enormous Issue packaging, especially cardboard and plastics.
How can this impact be reduced?
- Avoid urgent shipments, which require less efficient routes.
- Choose pickup points instead of submission .
- Look for options with sustainable or minimal packaging.
- Support local businesses whenever possible.
3. Lights, heating, and energy: consumption skyrockets
Illuminated streets and family gatherings cause electricity consumption to increase during this time of year. In homes, heating is the factor that most influences emissions during the winter.
Practical tips:
- It uses energy-efficient LED lighting.
- Limit the hours that the decorations are turned on.
- Adjust the thermostat: every Degree can increase energy consumption by 7%.
- Take advantage of natural light and improve ventilation to maintain good indoor air quality without excessive heating.
4. Christmas waste: the other big problem
Christmas is the time of year when we generate the most waste: wrapping paper, packaging, temporary decorations, and food scraps. All of this increases the Issue trash that ends up in landfills or treatment plants.
To reduce your footprint:
- Reuse bags, boxes, or fabric to wrap gifts.
- Avoid single-use products.
- Buy only what you need, especially when it comes to decorating.
- Separate waste correctly.
5. Celebrations and food: an invisible footprint
At Christmas, people buy and cook more than usual, and up to 30% of what is prepared can end up in the trash. Foods with a larger carbon footprint (meat, seafood, imported products) multiply the environmental impact.
Ideas for celebrating in a more sustainable way:
- Plan your menus in advance.
- Commitment to local and seasonal ingredients.
- Prioritize options with a smaller environmental footprint.
- Use leftovers in recipes for the following days.
Conclusion: enjoying yourself also means taking care of yourself
Reducing pollution at Christmas does not mean giving up traditions, but rather enjoying them in a more conscious way. Every little gesture counts: how we travel, how we shop, what energy we consume, and what waste we generate.
By incorporating these practices into our daily lives, we will not only improve air quality, reduce emissions, and protect public health, but we will also move toward a healthier and more sustainable future.
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Jesús Miguel Santamaría
Director Biodiversity and Environment Institute at the University of Navarra.
15.12.2025
