Christmas is coming up and it’s time to start thinking about decorations, food and festivities. Given the chance that this Christmas is likely to be a little different, this year is the perfect opportunity to throw caution to wind and try something entirely different. Swapping your real fir tree for a reusable one and opting for sustainable and handmade gifts can make such a difference in reducing your carbon footprint during the festive period. As a Brightonian, there are a multitude of suppliers at your disposal to help you have the best Christmas you can, whilst doing your bit for the environment. Written By Annabel Gadd
The first- and arguably, the best- part of anybody’s Christmas is the initial decorating; the retrieval of baubles and tinsel from the loft and cautious unwrapping of fragile baubles and festive decorations and deciding who will be honoured with the coveted responsibility of placing the star at the top of the tree. Unsurprisingly, the most sustainable decorations are those family heirlooms that are used year on year. If you are looking to invest in some new decorations, look to buy baubles and ornaments that are wooden, or made or glass. Collectively, glass and wooden ornaments produce a homely festive feel, perhaps contributing to that rustic, Christmas feel better than their plastic counterparts can. With regards to festive lighting, Country Living maintains that ‘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.’ LED lights are an affordable and easily accessible alternative to incandescent lighting- when it’s time to replace your old lights, it’s a change worth considering, both for your own purse and for the environment. Your tree can also be swapped out for a reusable alternative. By replacing your natural fir with a plastic tree, you lose the authenticity and fir scent, but by investing in a reusable tree, you’ll play your part in reducing the number of trees cut down each year and then going to landfill.
When it comes to gift giving, lockdown provides the ample opportunity to make your own gifts, save a bit of money and make your pressies super personal. If you have the time, try learning a new craft- knitting or crochet are quick and easy to pick up if you’re just starting out. YouTube has a vast array of easy to follow ‘make your own’ tutorials, ranging from textured scarves and blankets, to soft toys and clothing. If you’re busy over lockdown, or if arty presents just aren’t for you, try to shop local. Shopping local is the best way in which you can make sure that your purchases are sustainably sourced and locally produced. See the article titled, ‘How to Sustain the Local Businesses Unique to Brighton’ on the Brighton Journal website for a variety of small, independent shops in Brighton which sell clothing, homeware and gifts. Another thing worth considering: the wrapping paper. Opting to wrap your gifts in traditional, brown parcel paper ensures your paper waste can be recycled, making it better for the environment. Parcel paper also produces a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to the more common, plastic-based paper alternative which cannot be recycled. Moreover, you can personalise your brown-paper parcels by writing festive messages on the present itself, or doodle Christmas drawings on the paper itself.
Finally, we draw our attention to festive food– arguably the most important aspect of the festive period. With veganism and vegetarianism increasing in popularity, the internet is awash with alternatives to the meat component of a roast dinner. Instead of the staple turkey, opt for a nut roast or a vegetarian wellington. If you look forward to tucking into your turkey, if you can, make sure your bird is locally sourced to limit its food miles. Limiting waste is another significant way through which you can reduce your carbon footprint this Christmas. Naturally, all good Christmas dinners result in leftovers- they make for a delicious boxing day lunch. The trick is only purchasing and preparing what you know you’ll be able to eat- any wastage is detrimental to both the planet and to your pocket.
So there we have it- eight easy changes you can make to your festive celebrations to make your Christmas more sustainable and eco-friendly. Even if you only implement one of the above changes, you’re doing your bit for the planet by reducing your carbon footprint and reducing your waste. Every little helps!
