Sustainable Advent Calendars for a Greener Holiday Countdown

We love advent calendars to celebrate the holiday countdown, but most traditional and store-bought calendars contain single-use plastic and other non-recyclable materials that contribute significantly to holiday waste. If you want to be more eco-friendly this holiday season, your advent calendar is one place to start! If you're looking to create a meaningful and eco-friendly advent experience this year, here are some ideas for you! 

1. Reusable Fabric Advent Calendar with Small Pockets

A fabric advent calendar is a long-lasting option that can be reused every year. Most of them come with small pockets that you can fill by yourself with little surprises, notes, and treats - this is the perfect way to bring your loved one's pre-Christmas joy with a personal touch. 

Purchase or sew a fabric calendar, decorate it with holiday themes or personalise it with family names. Then fill each pocket with small treats or a meaningful message. For fillers, consider non-plastic items like handmade chocolates, small wooden toys, or notes with family activities. 

To make this option even more eco-friendly, opt for calendars made from organic cotton or linen. 

2. Mason Jar or Glass Jar Countdown

For a zero waste approach, use 24 small jars and place them on a shelf, filling each one with a surprise. You can decorate the lids with cloth, twine, or seasonal foliage, and draw numbers onto the glass. For fillers, homemade bath salts, mini candles, or holiday-themed tea bags are great ideas. 

Additionally, you can also use a single jar with 24 slips of paper, including holiday activities like baking cookies together or having a holiday movie night. This is a great idea to spend more time with your family and friends during the holiday season and make many wonderful memories. 

3. Book Advent Calendar

If you know a bookworm, they will absolutely love this calendar idea! A book advent calendar is a great holiday countdown idea that also works for families with young children. 

Gather 24 books (that may or may not be holiday-themed) and wrap them in reusable fabric. To be more sustainable, use books you already own, borrow from a library, or second-hand shop for gently used books. For children, this calendar can create a beautiful nighttime tradition of reading together, while also reducing waste. 

You can even rotate the books every year or donate the collection to a local library or family in need afterward. 

4. Mini Plant or Herb Advent Calendar

This truly is an advent calendar that keeps on giving! A plant or herb calendar is a great idea for people with a green thumb. Use small, potted herbs or succulents as your calendar and number each one, gifting a new plant daily. Additionally, you could also use seed packages to plant in the spring! 

Choose herbs that can be used to cook and opt for succulents that are easy to care for and last long after the holiday.

5. Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar

This is an advent calendar that focuses on giving back, making it perfect to teach kids about kindness and gratitude during the holiday season. 

Write down 24 acts of kindness and place them in a decorated jar. Each day, pull out a new act to complete. These should be small, easy tasks that you can actually accomplish within a day, such as baking cookies for a neighbour, writing a thank-you note, or picking up litter at the local park. 

With this advent calendar, giving back becomes a family tradition and will bring you many wonderful memories. 

6. DIY Ornament Advent Calendar

Creative people assemble! This advent calendar idea is perfect for every person who loves DIYs. For each day, include materials to craft a unique ornament, so you will have 24 unique ornaments on your Christmas tree that can be reused every year. 

For instance, try making ornaments from dried fruit, pinecones, or wood slices. 

We hope that these sustainable advent calendar ideas not only bring joy and excitement to your holiday season but also help reduce waste and create new creative experiences and family traditions. Whether you're giving small handmade gifts, reusing materials, or focusing on acts of kindness, these advent calendars will make the countdown to Christmas meaningful and green!