(ETX Daily Up) – An ancestral tradition from Germany, Christmas markets evolve with the times. Proof with the rise of “green markets”, which flourish everywhere in France and Europe.
According to a recent survey commissioned by the company Méta, 43% of French people admit to having difficulty finding Christmas gift ideas for their loved ones. The interviewees, on the other hand, explain that they are open to discoveries and 89% of them declare themselves ready to try a new brand, even if they want to favor local shops. What could be better, then, than finding inspiration by exploring an eco-responsible Christmas market? Promote made in France, highlight the work of local artisans and seasonal products, start the do-it-yourself… Eco-responsible Christmas markets often defend one or more of these values. And there have been more and more of them in recent years.
In those Christmas markets, we generally find the sparkling atmosphere of visitors who delight themselves with dishes that smell of holidays, while they walk the aisles to do their shopping. But the concept goes further and is rarely limited to boutique chalets. La Recyclerie, a third place in Paris in the 18th arrondissement dedicated to ecology, offers for example three different eco-responsible market concepts spread over the first three weekends of December. The former offers the opportunity to attend conferences and workshops “to see what our interiors might look like if we stopped cracking on things that contain petrochemicals.” In particular, you can learn how to make your own vegetable dye or find 100% natural decorations.
The second “Shorba Market” (December 10-11) will be an opportunity to find second-hand and/or made in France products, while the third (December 17-18) will be organized by the Low Carbon France association. and will honor the work of women creators and entrepreneurs. As eco-responsible as it is feminist, this market will be punctuated by events such as DIY workshops, literary meetings… and even a self-defense workshop!
In the same spirit of making visitors aware of ecology by immersing them in the magical atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations, the Good Planet Foundation created by Yann-Arthus Bertrand and nestled in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, unfolds an ecological project and solidarity Christmas market on the weekends of 10-11 and 17-18 December. On the programme: workshops, conferences and tastings.
Used, ethical brands, vegan products…
For its part, the Montmartre Christmas market, organized Place des Abbesses from 10 to 31 December, it will give pride of place to local artisans and highlight Made in France. Elsewhere in France, there are also “green” Christmas markets, both in Bordeaux and Marseille. Or the Roubaix Sustainable Market, centered around zero waste and which is already preparing to celebrate its sixth edition.
The concept of an eco-responsible Christmas market is also enjoying some success in other European countries. For example, there are several in Berlin and London: some advocate anti-waste values, others side with the offer of exclusively vegan products (gastronomy, cosmetics, textiles, etc.).
Other markets have built a reputation with our French-speaking neighbours: for example the eco-market in Geneva, organized by the eco-community “Bubble Ethic”, or the Creators Factory, in Brussels. Both born in response to visitors’ growing appetite for eco-responsible products, these two markets offer different ethical items (jewellery, clothing, cosmetics, candles, fashion and design accessories, etc.).
