Christmas is a time for giving and receiving and also spending time with family and friends. It’s a wonderful time of year which we all want to enjoy but have you ever thought about the environmental impact some of our activities and gifts can have. If you have been thinking about how to achieve a more sustainable Christmas but you are not sure where to begin then read on for a few of our suggestions, leave us a comment if you have any more ideas of your own!
Invest in a reusable advent calendar
Invest in a reusable advent calendar which can be enjoyed year after year for an eco-friendlier Christmas countdown. You can fill it with a variety of gifts such as handmade chocolates or other personalised gifts. You could even make one of your own which often makes it mean so much more. A unique and individual addition to your special family Christmas, which can be enjoyed year after year.
Rent a Christmas Tree
Did you know that you could rent a Christmas tree? Real Christmas Trees are more sustainable than artificial ones. In fact, one study concluded you'd have to use your fake fir for 20 years for it to be greener, and the majority aren’t recycled.
So why not rent your Christmas tree this year, and once you are finished, your tree can then be replanted to carry on growing. Find out more from one of a number of Christmas tree rental companies here.
Make and Decorate the Plastic Free Way
From door wreaths to tree decorations making things for Christmas is the perfect way get your creative kicks for the year. Door wreaths look brilliant and are relatively easy to make using seasonal, natural foliage and adornments such as pinecones and cinnamon sticks. Look at this video about how to make your own door wreath. Alternatively, have a go at making your own out of fabric that will last year after year.
Crafting Christmas decorations is also a great way to pass the long dark evenings after school with the kids. You can make mini Santa’s from toilet tubes with some red paint and cotton wool or decorate an upturned pinecone to look like a mini Christmas tree.
When buying Christmas Crackers its worth knowing that many are not recyclable, and the toys inside are often made of plastic that is thrown away after use. So be sure to look out for FSC-certified crackers which mean that the packaging is made from sustainably sourced paper and card. Check what’s inside a cracker to make sure you get something that people will reuse or get yourself a make your own Christmas cracker set online. Add some individuality with a few hand written cracker jokes and meaningful small gifts or handmade chocolate inside.
Avoid single-use tablecloths and napkins. Instead, use material versions which have a longer lifecycle than their paper equivalents, by washing them on a quick wash setting at a lower temperature will help to reduce your environmental footprint too.
Alternative gift ideas
Around half of UK adults report receiving gifts they don’t want at Christmas, so the key should be quality not quantity, one well thought out gift will often be more welcomed than lots of little gifts. Equally with kids choosing used toys or games is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
The benefits of buying used toys means toxins and pollutants are not added to the environment and they do not require new resources from the planet or energy to produce. Recycling toys also helps the environment by keeping plastic and fabric out of landfills. Charity shops and online marketplaces are flooded with toys at this time of year, so you can pick up some great pre-loved bargains and save a few pennies in the process. Why not take the opportunity to pass on some of your pre-loved items.
Another great gift idea is to buy an experience rather than more stuff. Perhaps something which could be enjoyed by all of the family providing an opportunity to create more memories along the way. A family day out or tickets to shows or events, or a membership to a local attraction.
Do you know someone who is expecting a baby? Why not purchase a gift card or a gift subscription bundle from Mama Bamboo. Sometimes the simplest things are the most welcomed and useful for new parents.
Wrap gifts with recycled paper or fabric
More than half of us re-use last year's wrapping paper, what many of us don't realise though is that many rolls contain non-recyclable elements like foil, glitter or plastic.
When it comes to wrapping paper, go for a recycled variety, or simply wrap your presents in brown paper which you can let your kids decorate with Christmas drawings and re-usable ribbon or eco-friendly paper tape. Or try wrapping gifts with fabric instead, using colourful fabric squares that can be re-used again and again.
Your gifts will look festive and authentic, and you’ll save money too.
Switch to LED Christmas lights
If every UK household swapped a string of incandescent lights for its LED equivalent, we could save more than £11 million and 29,000 tonnes of CO2, just over the 12 days of Christmas.
When it comes to eco-friendly Christmas decorations, LEDs use up to 80% less energy. Switch to solar-powered lights outdoors and put both sets on a timer. You'll not only make environmental savings, but your energy bills will be reduced too.
Send forest-friendly or plantable Christmas cards
For those of us who still love to write a Christmas card, look for cards with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark. This guarantees the paper has been produced sustainably and ethically. Plantable cards are growing in popularity, too. These cards embedded with seeds are as charming as they are eco-friendly.
Why not also recycle or compost your cards in January or cut them out to create gift tags for next year.
Get your sparkle on by buying second hand
You don't have to spend a fortune on a new outfit. There are many places you can pick up great quality second hand clothing, whether that's supporting a local charity shop, swapping an outfit with a friend/family member or visiting an online alternative. If you do decide to buy new, try to resist the temptation to splash out on sequins (they’re made from PVC and there are no biodegradable substitutes) and opt for sustainable materials instead.
Whatever you decide to do this Christmas, we hope it's full of joy and happiness!
