Monday 16th December 2019
For most, Christmas really is ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. Spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts and feasting on copious amounts of cheese, wine and pigs in blankets. But let us not forget, Christmas can also be ‘the most unsustainable time of the year’ – with a lot of waste in the form of leftover food, packaging and materials. Don’t let your sustainability credentials slip up this year, follow our 5 top tips to have yourself a green Christmas:
1. Wrap up this Christmas
108 million rolls of wrapping paper are thrown away each year in the UK, many of which contain foil or glitter and cannot be recycled. The same goes for Christmas cards containing glitter, which would have to go in the general waste bin. Why not use some old newspapers, or music sheets from a charity shop? These make a great alternative and are 100% recyclable. Get creative and instead make your own cards, using stamps and leftover ribbon.
2. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas treeAs the centrepiece of your Christmas celebrations, it’s important to get it right. Why not buy a tree with roots, so you can plant in your garden ready for next year? Alternatively, go faux – just remember to use the same tree at least 10 times, to ensure you are minimising its environmental impact.
3. Food ExtravaganzaUse the annual gastronomic extravaganza as a chance to experiment in the kitchen. Offcuts and leftovers can be used to make delicious stocks, preserves or loaded sandwiches on day 2. Or if you really cannot find a use for your leftovers, why not sign up to Olio, a food sharing app connecting you with people in your area who will come and collect unwanted edible food.
4. DIY DecorationsWhy not try decorating your home for Christmas without heading out to the shops? DIY it and make paper-chains and snowflakes from old magazines or newspapers or use natural foliage offcuts to create a wreath for your door or mantelpiece.
5. Christmas Fashion Faux PasResist the temptation to splash out on new outfits this year, particularly a new Christmas jumper, hosting a single appearance each year. Or if you are desperate not to be seen in the same outfit twice, why not head to your local charity shop? Or test your sewing skills and add some extra bling to your existing wardrobe.
