Mexico City Launches Sustainable Christmas Campaign

The Mexico City Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA) presented the Sustainable Christmas campaign, an initiative created in collaboration with Fibra Danhos. The event was held at the Reforma 222 shopping mall.

The agency highlighted that during the holiday season, Mexico City generates up to 25% more waste. For this reason, the initiative seeks to raise public awareness and encourage changes in consumption habits. The campaign invites residents to reflect on their purchasing behaviors and to adopt responsible practices such as reducing waste, reusing materials and avoiding single-use products in order to lessen their environmental impact.

In addition, a series of recommendations were issued, including buying Christmas-related gifts from local artisans and merchants to strengthen the local economy and reduce transportation-related emissions; planning food purchases to prevent waste; and avoiding fireworks in order to prevent air pollution and protect wildlife and people.

Clara Brugada, Mexico City Mayor, said that the city produces 8,500t of waste every day. She stressed that the campaign aims to make a concerted effort to reduce the amount of garbage generated during the holiday season. 

Julia Álvarez, Mexico City’s Minister of Environment, shared that this is an effort to drive the city’s transformation. She also emphasized that it is an example of how the Mexico City government is building partnerships with the private sector to promote large-scale initiatives with tangible results.

Salvador Daniel, Representative, Fibra Danhos, said that supporting this type of action is extremely important and stressed that these are efforts that should be carried out year-round. As part of the campaign, 50 gift-wrapping stations will be installed using newspaper, a creative, accessible and environmentally friendly alternative that promotes reuse and reduces the consumption of new paper.

Christmas lights and pollution

Another major source of pollution during the holiday season is Christmas lighting, which can increase household energy consumption by up to 30%, according to data from UNAM. The university’s Science Directorate noted that the intensive use of decorative lighting also has additional environmental effects, including increased light pollution. This phenomenon disrupts sleep cycles in various species, including humans, and can cause disorientation in animals that are sensitive to changes in light.

Luis Aldama, Researcher, Universidad Veracruzana (UV), explained that excessive nighttime decorative lighting also encourages the concentration of insects, increasing the likelihood of pest outbreaks in urban areas. “The attraction generated by light sources alters the natural distribution of these organisms and can affect the balance of local ecosystems,” he noted.

In light of these impacts, the public is encouraged to reduce the use of Christmas light strings and adopt responsible consumption practices. Recommendations include unplugging lights during the day, using them only during necessary hours, and limiting the number of lights installed both indoors and outdoors.

The convenience of replacing traditional light strings with LED technology was also emphasized, as LEDs consume up to 88% less electricity and reduce indirect emissions of polluting gases. “The rational use of lighting devices is an effective measure to reduce energy demand in December, one of the months with the highest household consumption in the country due to festivities, gatherings and food preparation,” Aldama noted.