As Christmas continues to creep closer and closer, we add to our continuing theme of attempting to be environmentally-conscious around the festive period.
Whilst it may be difficult to implement this idea to its full extent, below are some tips and tricks to help you have a sustainable and green Christmas the best you can, without killing the festive spirit.
Featured image: © Shutterstock
1. Christmas Tree
According to the GWP Group, approximately 8 million trees are discarded annually with 14% of that figure including fake trees. The following tips can help ensure your tree-making decisions won’t contribute to the overburdening, growing waste.
Purchasing real fir trees is a feasible way of reducing waste as they can be replanted after the festive period. For an added bonus, strive to buy trees locally as they will have a lower carbon footprint and poses as a fantastic way to support local businesses.
Additionally, companies such as Office Planters provides the option to rent a tree within the Sussex Country whereas Brighton & Hove Christmas Trees offers to remove and recycle tree bought from them into woodchips.
If the notion of a real tree is a complete no-go and reusing the same fake tree is out the question, how about buying a second-hand one from resale sites such as eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace or even Depop? Whilst surfing these sites you can also find a plethora of quirky vintage tree ornaments you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
However, if you want to save money altogether, you could substitute a large indoor plant that you already own as a Christmas tree instead!
2. Decorations
In addition to reusing pre-owned decorations, making your own is a delightful way to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit!
You can make your own wreaths by using fruits, leaves and twigs from your garden or local parks and binding them together with some string. Following the holiday period, you can leave them in your garden to decompose naturally.
Placing LED lights (using rechargeable batteries) into jars with fruits, pine cones and tree trimmings is also a dainty and creative way to spread the festive glow around the house. These lights can also be reused throughout the year as decor.
We could not end the conversation around hand-made decorations without mentioning the timelessly classic paper snowflakes; it’s a great way to get the kids involved! Use newspapers or recycled paper to create the desired design and stick them onto windows or dangle from the ceiling. There are numerous ways to get creative when designing and making your own personal decorations!
3. Gifts
We all have the fear when buying presents for friends and loved ones, that they may not appreciate their gift as much as we anticipated. To avoid this, aim to have a set budget in mind and consider shopping in second-hand stores or online resale sites to find something unique and affordable. Chances are, you could probably find something no-one else will have!
If you’ve got a slightly bigger budget, contemplate supporting local businesses or buying from sustainable stores for gifts that won’t harm the planet. Our ’10 eco-friendly Christmas gift guide’ is sure to provide some interesting ideas for those who want to give a gift with purpose. Additionally, The Open Market is hosting a zero-waste Christmas market on Sunday 15th December for all things eco-friendly.
If you want to give a gift that guarantees no-one in the entire world would have, why not hand make something for this special person? Not only will doing so add an extra personal touch to the gift, but the recipient would be highly appreciative of you for taking the time to make something from scratch! These could be hand-making cards using recyclable paper and some natural materials (sending an e-card is also a sustainable alternative), making a gift through arts and crafts (these could be photo albums, marble-imprinted mugs using nail polish or jewellery), or even baking their favourite festive treats and food!
4. Wrapping Paper
The GWP Group states that Brits indulge in roughly 227,000 miles of wrapping paper per year (that’s roughly four rolls of wrapping paper per average household) only for most of it to end up in our bins.
It’s no secret that opening presents carefully to preserve the wrapping paper seems near impossible, especially among excited little kids. If this proves to be difficult, try wrapping presents in brown parcel paper which can be accumulated from deliveries throughout the year and decorate them with Christmas tree trimmings and some ribbon. Brown paper tends to be sturdier and therefore will last much longer than standard wrapping paper whilst also helping you save money.
For those who opt to buy festive wrapping paper, try to avoid buying ones with glitter as they cannot be recycled whatsoever. Alternatively, ditch the paper altogether and use totes bags or silk or cotton scarves to wrap your presents in instead; they serve as an additional reusable gift!
5. Reducing meat consumption
As 2019 comes to a close, it’s easier than ever before to become a vegetarian or vegan even during the festive period. As the number of meat-free eaters continues to rise globally, consider researching meat-free alternative versions of your favourite Christmas dish.
Not only will this add some variety to the highly anticipated Christmas meal but you may also discover your new favourite dish! Popular alternatives include nut roasts and mushroom wellingtons which (if you’re short of time to make) are available in almost all major supermarkets. A tricky yet vital one for sure, but always worth an attempt!
