It’s the most wasteful time of the yeeaar! Don’t get us wrong, it’s still the most wonderful time, but it’s almost 2022 and ignoring the impact our actions have on the planet is just not an option anymore.
After another eventful year, and with Glasgow hosting COP26, we’re all thinking a lot more about ways to be sustainable in our day-to-day lives.
Between the rolls of wrapping paper and tempting festive treats in shop windows, this time of year can generate a lot of waste if we’re not careful.
To help you be more environmentally friendly this Christmas, we’ve made a new and improved easy-to-follow guide for the holiday season.
Décor the planet will adore
Collect cranberries and pop some corn kernels, then thread a piece of thin wire through them to create a DIY garland strand. Take a trip outside to forage for leaves, branches, and pinecones to fill big holes in the tree.
Make biodegradable ornaments by drying out orange slices in the oven and threading string through them. Another fun idea is to make salt dough ornaments with flour, salt, and water – you can put a handprint or custom design on them before placing them in the oven to harden. Using sticks and some twine, you can even finish off your tree with a natural star topper. ⭐️
Shop Small and support local
According to Civic Economics, on average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores.
Shopping small also helps you gift more thoughtfully to avoid returns. Shopping locally and buying something only your local store sells takes more thought than buying a gift from a major retailer. It’s unique, personal, and the chances are you’d be the first to give it to them.
Additionally, you are less likely to end up buying things you never set out to purchase in the first place, meaning shopping small make you overall a much more conscious shopper. Yay!
Go green with wrapping
Don’t forget to wrap your presents in eco-friendly wrapping paper. Using recyclable wrapping paper, like furoshiki, is the gift that keeps on giving, as the person who receives it gets next year’s gift-wrapping paper for free!
Here’s a handy list the best recyclable gift wrap.
Re-usable Christmas crackers
What?! No, we haven’t gone crackers… Check out these great eco-friendly Christmas decorations for the table, which are made from natural linen, and some allow you to add your own personalised gifts.
Surely that is better than a bad joke and a plastic toy no one can quite figure out the use of?!
Rent-a-tree
Blockbuster might’ve gone bust but behold … Logbuster. It’s one of a few places around the UK where you can rent a Christmas tree. Renting a tree is becoming more popular as we move towards a more sustainable holiday season. Country living has a handy guide to find the best tree here.
Recyclenow provides handy drop-off points in your area, where your old tree will be recycled into chippings for local parks and woodland areas. If you buy a tree, ensure it’s been grown as locally as possible: you can go to bctga.co.uk or growninbritain.org to find out about growers in your area.
A sweet Christmas clean
We hate to be the bearer of bad news to break up the love affair between you, the chocolate wrappers, and the TV, but there is one thing we must mention – the dreaded cleanup! To soften the blow, we’ve scented our All-purpose sanitiser with mandarin to make clearing up that little bit sweeter. ☺️
Looking for some more Christmas tips? Blow the relatives socks off with the fact there’s not one animal product in their meal with our guide to the best vegan Christmas dinner here!
