The municipal administration of Portel wishes us a blessed Christmas and prosperous new year
Merry Sustainable Christmas! This month the town of Portel is celebrating its second annual Natal Sustentável. Portelenses apparently enjoy lots of soda, or refrigerante, during the year. The plastic 2-liter soda bottles are set aside, and most Christmas decorations around town are made from different parts of these bottles. The re-purposing doesn’t stop with decorations – I saw a backpack made from one these!
This angel is sporting the soda-bottle bottoms painted white. The wings are strips of plastic from bottle sides.
The sustainability doesn’t stop with plastic. Now you know what to do with those old CDs you’re too embarrassed to sell!
In addition to liking refrigerante, Portelenses enjoy beer. A Christmas wreath – what a great excuse to buy a case!
These three men are not only wise; they are conscientious.
Want to make a snowman? Who needs chunks of coal, carrots, or even snow?
This spherical, slightly diabolical-looking Santa Claus is a big draw during Natal Sustantável. I asked the kids why his face is pink. They said, “Because he’s American!”
Part of the Christmas festivities in Portel involve food, as well they should. I “helped” my friend Maria Júlia (i.e., made incorrect change and spilled product) sell suco natural, juice made from local fruit: taperebá, cupuacu, and buruti.
Recycled plastic is not for the Magi and ex-pat Santas alone. It also works well for holding and dispensing suco natural.
Our very own sustainable Christmas tree, made from a broken umbrella of mine. (If you’ve watched the video I posted, you can imagine I go through them frequently.) Martha Stewart’s got nothing on us.
Boas festas e feliz ano novo pra tudo!
Life with Its Teeth Out 
Great post! Happy Holidays, Jen!!!!
Thanks, Julia! You too!