Most families love decorating their homes for the festive season. Christmas decor usually brings extra joy and coziness, and it adds to the warm atmosphere.
However, the majority of decorations we can find are made of plastic and colored using toxic paints, not to mention their very poor quality.
Yes, Americans produce 25% more waste than usual between Thanksgiving and the New Year, but it does not mean we should contribute to this problem even more.
We can decorate for Christmas and fill our homes with the spirit of the season without buying wasteful decorations that would quickly end up in a landfill.
Learn about 5 brands that sell eco-friendly decorations you can feel good about buying this festive season. You will also find 8 DIY ideas to inspire you to create some sustainable Christmas decor by yourself or with your kids!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands – and us!
What makes Christmas decor sustainable?
The most sustainable Christmas decorations are the ones you already have at home. So if you already have some, reuse them year after year, and try to take good care of them.
But if you need new decor, making it yourself with elements you can find in nature is a great option. You can also find them second-hand or purchase high-quality decorations made from sustainable materials and produced in a fair trade environment.
What materials should you search for?
If you want to create some decorations yourself, use upcycled materials or things from your kitchen, like oranges, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks. You can also go foraging for some natural elements, like pinecones, branches, rosehips, and holly.
But if you prefer to buy them instead, choose decor made of recycled materials or FSC-certified wood. Many sustainable decorations are also made from organic cotton, linen, vintage fabrics, or raffia.
Our favorite brands carrying eco-friendly & sustainable Christmas decor for the holidays:
1. Ten Thousand Villages
Categories: Garlands, Ornaments, Tree Toppers, Nativity Scenes
Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade brand making all kinds of handcrafted products for everyday life.
It works with artisan communities from all over the world.
The brand sells a lot of Christmas decorations, including Nativity scenes, tree ornaments, tree toppers and garlands, all made using sustainable materials.
For instance, Ten Thousand Villages has a stunning garland made from natural palm leaf, featuring little gold and silver stars. You will also fall in love with its nativity scene hand-carved in a coconut shell by disabled people in Cambodia.
2. The Citizenry
Categories: Tree Skirts, Ornaments, Stockings, Candle Holders, Garlands
The Citizenry’s home goods are all made with a fair trade process guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization.
It has a few Christmas decorations that are all beautifully handcrafted by artisans from all over the world.
We absolutely adore their luxurious garlands!
Crafted with fresh botanicals, this garland pictured embodies an organic style that seamlessly merges elegance with a natural aesthetic. The garland artfully combines crisp eucalyptus leaves with the vibrant, bracing hues of pepperberry, creating a lush, eye-catching decoration that is sure to become a timeless favorite for any season.
3. Fair Trade Winds
Categories: Ornaments, Garlands, Lanterns, Candles, Wreaths, Pillows
As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade Winds sells sustainable clothes and home goods that are all fairly traded and handmade.
The brand has numerous Christmas tree ornaments, including cute animals and wooden angels.
You can also find a hand-felted Nativity scene set, all kinds of colorful garlands, and a beautiful advent calendar.
Fair Trade Winds even has some metal lanterns as well as soy wax candles with a cinnamon, clove and orange scent to add a festive atmosphere to your home.
4. Friendsheep Wool
Categories: Ornaments, Garlands, Wreaths, Coasters
Friendsheep Wool is on a mission to help consumers ditch single-use dryer sheets and synthetic fresheners, and offers great reusable, plastic-free alternatives – and besides their line of non-toxic fresheners, they offer holiday decos, too!
Friendsheep Wool’s garland is made of organic wool by disabled women in Nepal.
Dyed with non-toxic, azo-free dyes, its stunning colors will remind you of a starry night sky.
You can also pick some of the brand’s ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree. If you love animals, you are lucky: it has some adorable dogs, reindeer, bears, and sheep!
Friendsheep Wool is a member of 1% For The Planet. It also plants one tree for every item sold and offsets the carbon emissions from all the shipments throughout its supply chain.
5. Passion Lilie
Categories: Ornaments
Passion Lilie’s hand-painted ornaments bring beauty, culture & sustainability together for the holidays. Each ornament is crafted from eco-friendly papier-mâché by skilled artisans in India. The intricate patterns and vibrant colors add a meaningful, handmade touch to your X-Mas tree!
As a Fair Trade Certified brand, Passion Lilie ensures fair wages, safe working conditions & sustainable practices throughout their entire supply chain. Their commitment to ethical craftsmanship means your holiday decorations help empower communities and preserve artisanal traditions.
These ornaments are more than just beautiful. They represent connection, intention, and lasting beauty, which are at the heart of the season.
Our Favorite DIY Christmas Decor Ideas:
1. Dried Orange Garland
A dried orange garland is a must-have Christmas decoration that you will be able to hang on your tree or your mantel!
To create one, slice a few oranges and use a towel to squeeze out as much juice as possible. Put them in the oven for two hours at 250°F, and once they are baked, leave them on a cooling rack for a few days. Use a needle and a thread to string them together.
If you do not want a garland, you can easily use these orange slices as tree ornaments. Just create a loop with your thread so that you can hang them.
2. Handmade Wreath
If you love hanging a Christmas wreath on your front door for the festive season, why don’t you make one yourself?
First, try to find some flexible branches in nature to create a wreath base. But if you cannot find any, reuse an old base or purchase one made from willow. Then, cut a few branches from your Christmas tree, layer them up and attach them to the base with wire.
Go foraging for some natural elements from your local environment, like pinecones, holly, laurel, or rosehips, and add them to your wreath. You will end up with a beautiful, sustainable wreath!
3. Christmas Table Centerpiece
Spruce up your dining table by adding a wonderful centerpiece that you made yourself. You can easily create one using a recycled tin can and some freshly cut branches you found in nature.
Reuse a tin can from the food you eat, and fill it with a bit of sand and water. The wet sand will provide moisture to the fresh cuttings and will help keep everything in place.
Then, go foraging for some evergreen branches with pinecones, and arrange them in the tin can. Dress up the can with a piece of burlap, tie it with twine or a nice ribbon, and voilà!
4. Cinnamon Sticks
Another very easy Christmas decoration you can create using cinnamon sticks is to turn them into tree ornaments.
Cover the cinnamon stick with an elegant ribbon, and tie it into a bow.
You may have kept a few ribbons from last Christmas, so don’t forget to check before buying any!
And there you have a wonderful tree ornament that not only looks beautiful but also smells incredibly good!
5. Candle Jars
Decorate your dining table with a few candle jars in the middle.
They are incredibly easy to make, but they look really beautiful and add to the cozy atmosphere.
Reuse and upcycle a jar from the food you buy, and add a bit of salt at the bottom.
Place a tealight inside, and then, attach a few cinnamon sticks with a string or a ribbon to the outside of the jar.
Instead of cinnamon sticks, you could also tie a little pine branch or a small piece of holly. Finally, light the candle and enjoy your lovely creation!
