Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Eco

Jenny McNeely offers her top tips for finding some festive greenery with a difference

Dreaming of a green Christmas

Think you haven’t got time to think about the environment during the festive season? Fret not – there are lots of simple ways to do your bit

Looking swish

You can find a fabulous party frock without spending a fortune and get a feel-good recycling vibe with the newest eco-chic trend – swishing. You simply take at least one good-quality item of clothing or fashion accessory to a swishing party, and then take your pick from the goodies your fellow swishers have brought along. It’s described as the ‘future of fashion’, so why not find out if there’s a group near you, or start your own in time for Christmas – see www.swishing.com.

Kinder cabs

When you’re hopping from one festive ‘do’ to the next, try to give your custom to pioneering green taxis. Taxi Stockholm (www.taxistockholm.se) has a fleet of natural gas vehicles. Last month Hamburg followed the Swedish capital’s example, launching a fleet of cabs that run on hybrid electricity.

Or if you’re in London, Go Green Car (www.gogreencar.co.uk) uses Toyota Prius Hybrids and is currently running a special Friday promotion – you pay just €12/ £10 for any journey within Zone 1.

Inspired shopping

A non-profit organisation that promotes the creative recycling of ‘rubbish’ and found objects, Drap Art’s International Recycling Art Festival of Catalonia takes place this month (17 December – 9 January, www.drapart.org) in Barcelona. Not only is the event a platform for artists reclaiming what society labels as junk, but it also highlights the often overlooked fact that what we discard doesn’t magically disappear. Pick up inspiration and advice with exhibitions and discussions, and browse the arts and crafts for recycled gifts.

Responsible retail

Eco-boutique Super Green Me in the Dansaert district of Brussels stocks gorgeous gifts. Look out for Liebman design toys, which are 100% bamboo, as well as lovely kids clothes. While you’re in the area, visit Oxfam Vintage on 104 Rue de Flandre for furniture and fashion finds (or find your local shop at www.oxfamsol.be). And if you can’t make it to the Belgian capital before Christmas, check out Marie Cabanac (www.marie-cabanac.com), whose quirky, ethical threads are on sale throughout Europe.

The gift of giving

There’s a lot of stuff in the world – there’s probably a lot in your house – so why not put some of it to good use and give unique presents this Christmas?

Browse your bookshelves – spot anything you know that someone else will love reading? Wrap it up and give a present that really means something to you.

Have a look in your cupboards for the ingredients for tasty treats such as homemade truffles (see below for a quick recipe) or Christmas cookies.

Make a dent in that pile of newspapers and magazines waiting to be recycled by using them for wrapping paper; comic-strips make great wrapping for kids’ gifts, while for grown-ups go for the glossy supplements.

Sign up to Freecycle (www.freecycle.org), where someone else’s unwanted belongings could be just the gift you’re looking for.

Green travel

You can choose to off set your air travel for a good cause

It’s important to reduce the impact of air travel on the environment. But while improvements are under way, zero-impact aircrafts are yet to be available – so investing in CO2-reduction projects is currently one of the most practical ways to compensate for the residual carbon dioxide emissions. And you can now choose to offset emissions with Brussels Airlines. Once you’ve booked your flight online, you’ll be invited to offset the carbon emissions linked to that journey. There is no obligation to do so, and Brussels Airlines gains no financial benefit from your contributions to this carbon offset programme.

Your contributions will support a project in Uganda that reduces deforestation and ensures improved living conditions for the local population. Efficient stoves that reduce wood and charcoal consumption by nearly 40% – and thus avoid the emission of 1.4 tonnes of CO2 per stove annually, approximately equivalent to a return trip between Brussels and New York – are provided to local families.

Brussels Airlines has partnered CO2logic, a Belgian organisation that specialises in the calculation, reduction and offsetting of CO2 emissions, to help combat climate change.

NEED TO KNOW

Xmas truffles: Melt 400g of chocolate with 150ml of double cream, stir in a few drops of vanilla essence and chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Roll into small balls between your palms before dusting the truffles with cocoa powder.

Leave a Reply