Christmas can be a tricky time for sustainability. We all want to make our Christmas the most memorable, special occasion, but how do we make Christmas more eco-friendly?
Here are six easy ways to make your Christmas kinder to the planet.
1- Use Recyclable Gift Wrap and Plastic-Free Tape.
Did you know that lots of cheaper wrapping paper cannot be recycled? Recyclable wrapping paper will say on the packaging that it can be recycled, so it's worth checking before you buy.
When it comes to tape, there are a few plastic-free options. You could go for a plant-based tape like this one, or you could opt for a paper tape like this one.
While we're talking gift wrap, you might also want to swap plastic-based ribbons and gift tags in favour of twine and recyclable, more eco-friendly options. Yarn and strips of fabric work well, too.
You can also re-use gift bags whenever possible, or consider wrapping items in fabric instead. Take a look at this post for 9 sustainable gift wrap ideas.
2- Buy a Pre-Loved Christmas Jumper
If you need a new Christmas jumper, why not consider pre-loved. Hop on over to Vinted or eBay and I bet you'll find hundreds of festive knits at a fraction of the price of new ones. Not only are you saving money (which is super useful at this time of year), but you're also saving clothes from landfill. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear Christmas jumpers!
3- Rent Your Christmas Tree
There are many fabulous small businesses around the country that will rent you a Christmas tree for the festive period, and then take it away and keep it alive so it can be used again for years to come.
If a real tree is not your thing, then you could always go for an artificial tree that you can use year after year.
On the subject of trees, LED lights are much cheaper to run so go for these if you can. And build up a collection of heirloom Christmas decorations, rather than buying cheap ones that you might throw away after a year or two. Take a look at our Christmas decorations here.
4- Choose Plastic-Free Christmas Crackers
You can either source plastic free Christmas crackers like these ones, or you can fill your own, like these ones. We've done this a few times, and it's so much fun hunting for tiny gifts to put in them.
5- Buy Gifts From Small Businesses
This one should go without saying! When you buy gifts from small businesses, not only do you support the local economy, but you get unique, handmade products of the highest quality and brilliant customer service. Surely that's a gazillion times better than mass-produced, plastic rubbish that's been flown half way around the world and sent in excessive packaging?
6- Choose Quality over Quantity
Less is definitely more when it comes to buying gifts. Rather than buying lots of smaller gifts that may or may not stand the test of time, go for larger, better quality gifts.
Experiences are another great way to reduce waste, after all, it is the season for spending quality time together. Last year my brother gave us cinema tickets, we had the best evening out as a family and there was no plastic involved- genius!
