It goes without saying: reuse these boxes where you can (like storing your favorite memories or packing away the fall decor), and recycle as the next best option. Recycling just one ton of cardboard saves around 9 cubic yards of landfill space and 46 gallons of oil. For the other waste that comes inside cardboard, we love Ridwell, which takes what curbside recycling can't (And I can give you a free month to test it out! If interested, slide into those DMs).

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The Great Tree Debate: Real vs. Fake (It's Complicated)

Every year, I get asked about the environmental impact of real trees versus fake trees. It depends on how long you want a relationship with said fake tree. Real Christmas trees typically cary an average carbon footprint of 3.5 kg of CO2 if disposed through burning or wood chipping. If they're left to decompose in landfills, their carbon footprint multiples to 16kg. Here's the thing, though: while they're growing, Christmas trees are doing all that good tree stuff: absorbing carbon, providing wildlife habitat and preventing soil erosion, and more. For every tree purchased, farmers plant 1-3 seedlings in its place, which guarantees future green space and farmland.

A two-meter artificial Christmas tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg, more than 10 times that of a real tree that is burned after Christmas. These plastic beauties are made from petroleum-based PVC, manufactured mostly in China, and shipped across the world. They're nearly impossible to recycle, so when we're done with them they get landfilled.

The Real Deal:

Real Christmas trees typically carry an average carbon footprint of 3.5 kilograms of CO2 if disposed of through methods such as wood chipping or burning. However, if they are left to decompose in landfills, their carbon footprint multiplies fourfold to 16 kilograms of CO2. Here's the thing though: while they're growing, Christmas trees are doing all that good tree stuff—absorbing carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and making the world a slightly less terrible place. For every tree purchased, farmers plant 1-3 seedlings in its place according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

The Fake Facts:

A two-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg, more than 10 times that of a real tree that's burned after Christmas. These plastic beauties are predominantly made from PVC (yes, petroleum-based), manufactured mostly in China, and shipped across the world. And when you're done with them? They're heading straight to landfill because they're nearly impossible to recycle.

So Which One Wins?

Here's the mythbusting part: Fake trees are NOT always better for the environment. To break even with a real tree's carbon footprint, you need to use your fake Christmas tree for a minimum of 10 years to make it worth your eco while.

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The Best Options:

• If you go real: Buy local, dispose responsibly (compost, chip, or donate it—never landfill), and look for FSC-certified trees.
• If you go fake: Commit to that tree like it's a marriage. Buy secondhand if possible.

The same logic applies for wreaths. Real wreaths are made from harvested branch tips, which actually promotes tree growth. They're renewable, recyclable, and don't require fossil fuels to produce. Artificial wreaths need to be reused for years to justify their plastic footprint. Choose wisely. For more wrapping paper tips, check out our videos on Instagram here and here.

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DIY Fire Starters That Won't Burn Your Conscience

Want to feel like a woodland fairy while also being practical? Make your own fire starters using pinecones and beeswax.

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Just melt some leftover candle wax or beeswax, dip pinecones in it, let them cool on parchment paper, and voila—you've got gorgeous, natural fire starters that work like magic. Store them in a basket near your fireplace and pretend you have your life together.

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Bonus: they make great gifts that say "I'm thoughtful AND crafty" without requiring you to actually be crafty year-round.

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You can also use dried citrus peels, cinnamon sticks bundled with twine, or egg cartons filled with dryer lint and wax (sounds weird, works great). Just avoid petroleum-based products or anything with toxic chemicals—we're trying to cozy up, not poison ourselves.