The festive season is a time of joy, connection, and celebration; however, in any workspace, it can also generate excessive amounts of disposable décor, pre-packaged treats, and general clutter. By rethinking decorations, choosing mindful food options, and encouraging shared experiences over throwaway goods, coworking spaces can create celebrations that feel meaningful rather than wasteful. With a bit of planning, a low-waste Christmas (or any winter celebration you observe) not only preserves festive cheer; it also strengthens the sense of community that makes coworking special in the first place.
Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate this Festive Season
The OECD highlights that Christmas has a significant carbon footprint driven by consumer-driven consumption, increased waste, and high energy usage. While the total impact is difficult to measure precisely, key contributors include food waste, excess packaging, discarded wrapping materials, holiday travel, and the production of real and artificial trees. These seasonal habits add noticeably to emissions and resource use. However, workspaces that apply circular-economy principles (reducing, reusing, and recycling) can meaningfully cut this impact.
Here are 6 tips for coworking spaces to enjoy a more sustainable Christmas:
- Rethink Decorations
Instead of plastic tinsel and single-use ornaments, choose eco-friendly décor that can be reused year after year:
- Natural elements: Pinecones, evergreen branches, dried oranges, or cinnamon sticks add scent and texture while being compostable.
- DIY decorations: Encourage members to craft ornaments from recycled paper, fabric scraps, or upcycled materials.
- Light up wisely: Opt for LED lights on timers to reduce energy use.
- Gift-Free or Donation-Based Events
Gift exchanges can generate mountains of packaging and unused items. Consider alternative ways to celebrate:
- Secret Santa with a twist: Make it optional and encourage handmade, second-hand, or experience-based gifts (e.g., baking or offering a skill).
- Charity drives: Organise a donation event where members contribute to local charities instead of exchanging gifts.
- ‘Pay it forward’ challenges: Encourage members to engage in acts of kindness for others in the community, rather than buying gifts.
- Food and Drink with a Low-Impact Twist
Christmas treats are part of the joy, but they often come with a lot of waste. Keep it sustainable:
- Reusable servingware: Encourage mugs, plates, and cutlery that can be washed and reused.
- Local, seasonal snacks: Buy from local bakers or farmers’ markets to reduce transport emissions.
- Composting stations: Make it easy for members to dispose of food scraps responsibly.
- Repair Cafés and Upcycling Days
Turn the season into a chance to be creative and resourceful:
- Host a repair café where members fix broken gadgets, clothing, or decorations.
- Organise an upcycling workshop to turn old office supplies, wrapping paper, or holiday décor into new creations.
- Inclusive and Mindful Celebration
Remember, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Many coworkers have diverse cultural or religious traditions:
- Celebrate winter in a broader sense: focus on togetherness, gratitude, and community.
- Encourage personalised participation: let members bring traditions that matter to them, and offer spaces for quiet reflection or alternative festivities.
- Education and Inspiration
Coworking spaces can double as learning hubs for sustainability:
- Share tips on low-waste gifting, wrapping alternatives, and energy-saving practices.
- Post simple reminders, such as ‘wrap with what you have’ or ‘reuse decorations from last year, to encourage sustainable habits.
- Invite a local environmental group for a short talk or workshop on eco-friendly practices.
Why It Pays to Be Greener
Choosing more sustainable practices* as a coworking space is not only good for the planet; it’s also good for business in the long term. Eco-friendly improvements, such as efficient lighting, reduced waste, and reusable supplies, can cut operating costs over time, while creating a healthier, more enjoyable environment for everyone who works there. Members increasingly look for spaces that reflect their values, so becoming ‘greener’ helps attract and retain a community that cares. It also opens the door to new forms of collaboration, including workshops, local community events, and shared initiatives that strengthen organisational culture within a workspace.
With sustainability standards improving across all sectors, adopting greener habits now can help workspaces rise above the competition and set a positive example for the companies and creatives who operate within them.
A More Thoughtful Approach to the Festive Season
Reasons Across our communities, many are struggling to meet even the most basic needs. Recent data shows that food bank use in the UK has risen sharply, with millions of emergency food parcels distributed annually through networks such as the Trussell Trust. This highlights growing food insecurity and financial strain for many households, driven by rising living costs and economic pressures. This reality exists alongside the overindulgence and abundance we often see during the festive season. Keeping this in mind can help us approach celebrations more thoughtfully and consider how our choices over Christmas can support sustainability.
By adopting low-waste practices, coworking spaces can celebrate the season in ways that are joyful, inclusive, and kind to the planet—proving that festive cheer and sustainability can go hand in hand.
* Hubble HQ listed Creative Works as one of London’s most sustainable coworking spaces in May 2025.
