Easy Tips For A Sustainable Green Christmas

The holiday season is full of sparkle, cheer… and some serious environmental impact. Between the twinkling lights, festive feasts, and mountains of wrapping paper, it’s easy to forget that Christmas can come with a hefty carbon footprint.

Did you know that during the Christmas period is responsible for nearly 6% of the UK’s entire yearly emissions?

But don’t worry! You and your business can still enjoy all the magic of the season without feeling guilty.

In this blog we go over some simple, fun ways to make your Christmas more sustainable while still decking the halls and indulging in all your holiday favourites.

Let’s make this Christmas not only merry and bright but green, too!

What’s Really Going on Behind the Christmas Magic?

From travel to waste, the holiday season can have a major environmental impact. In the UK, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day account for almost 6% of the total annual carbon emissions. Crazy, right? 

And here’s another fun fact: 75% of Christmas cards get tossed into the trash. Many of them are covered in foil and glitter meaning they cannot go in dry mixed recycling. Yikes!  

And did you know that nearly half (41%) of the toys gifted each Christmas are already broken and sent to waste by the time spring rolls around? 

The Big Culprits: Travel, Energy and Waste

So, what’s causing all that extra CO2?

The three big offenders are travel, energy use, and waste. The holiday season means lots of travel to visit family, which contributes to a spike in air travel emissions. As the nation starts to light its Christmas trees, in the first week of December, electricity demand rose by approximately 7.3%, and when it comes to wrapping paper, let’s just say there’s enough produced each year to wrap the Earth nine times. Yep, it’s a lot.

Let’s Talk About Food Waste

Food waste is another huge issue at Christmas. Every year, we toss away a whopping 2 million tonnes of food. That’s a lot of mince pies, people! We tend to overbuy, cook more than we need, and forget about leftovers. Fun fact: 74 million mince pies are thrown away each Christmas. 

When food ends up in general waste, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. 

But fear not! We’ve got you covered with some super easy ways to have an eco-friendly holiday without missing out on any of the fun. 

Fun Tips for a Sustainable (and Festive) Christmas

Ready to make this Christmas greener than ever? Here are some easy, fun, and totally doable tips for reducing commercial waste and having an eco-friendly holiday time at your business: 

Secret Santa

1. Wrap It Up, the Green Way: Most Christmas wrapping that end up with paper recycling are not actually recyclable. So ditch single-use wrapping paper and opt for creative alternatives like old newspapers, magazines, or fabric scraps. You can even wrap gifts in scarves or reusable bags! 
2. Gifts That Keep on Giving: Choose practical, meaningful, or eco-friendly gifts, such as vintage items or second-hand treasures. Our circular economy products make great sustainable Secret Santa gifts!  
3. Support Local & Sustainable: Shop from local, eco-friendly businesses, or consider gifting experiences instead of physical items. 
4. Reduce Food Waste at Christmas Parties 

Rather than ordering large quantities of food that might go uneaten, consider offering smaller, more varied portions and encouraging guests to take only what they can finish. Set up a “leftovers station” where staff can take home food in eco-friendly containers. Additionally, work with caterers who focus on sustainability by minimising packaging waste and donating unused food. These simple steps will make your Christmas party festive, sustainable, and eco-friendly! 

Get Energized with LED Lights

Swap your regular Christmas lights for energy-efficient LED ones. They last longer, use less energy, and will still give your home that magical glow without the energy guilt. Plus, they come in every colour imaginable.  

Recycle Your Christmas Tree with Recorra

This year don’t let your Christmas tree end up as waste! With Recorra’s Christmas Tree Recycling Service, we offer a cost-effective, sustainable, and stress-free way to dispose of your tree. For just £55 per sack, we’ll collect your tree after Christmas, recycle it, and turn it into nutrient-rich compost for future use. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Order your special Christmas Tree Sack from our Helpdesk. 
2. After Christmas, remove your decorations (keep them for next year!) and place your tree in the sack. 
3. Contact our team to book your collection. 
4. We’ll give your tree a second life by turning it into compost! 

Want to go the extra mile? You can even purchase the compost from our office supplies website to use in your business or garden. 

Let’s Make It a Green Christmas!

This Christmas, it’s all about giving back to the planet, not just giving presents. By making a few small, fun changes to our festive traditions, we can significantly reduce waste and create a more sustainable holiday season.  

From confidential shredding to coffee cup recycling, through using Recorra your business can give the gift of responsible commercial waste managemnt. Check out our services here.