Have a very Merry Eco Christmas
Christmas is a time for magic, giving and receiving, and chucking away more food, packaging and unwanted items than at any other time of the year. So let this year be the year that we try to reduce this a little. Here are just a few ways that you can do this!
Crack down on single-use crackers - Many of the crackers we see on our Christmas tables are very harmful to the environment - all those novelty plastic toys, excess packaging and glitter all over. Switch to reusable crackers made from fabric, which will not only look beautiful but will last year after year - plus you can personalise them with your own gifts inside that people will actually use!
Gift sustainably - It's easy to get carried away when shopping for Christmas gifts, but take a moment to think if the present is really necessary – or even wanted – by the intended recipient. Approximately £42million of unwanted Christmas presents are thrown out in landfill each year, along with what equates to 108 million rolls of wrapping paper, according to GWP Group.
Enough to feed an army? - The UK wastes an estimated 54 million platefuls of food over Christmas, and most people admit to buying more food than they need. Plan ahead and make your Christmas dinner more sustainable and try to avoid being tempted by multi-buy offers and discounts that may make you over shop. You won't run out of food - honest!
Switch to eco-friendly wrapping paper - On average, Brits use around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. Sticky tape, ribbons and paper covered in glitter can't be recycled. Switching to brown eco-friendly paper, old materials or fabrics and paper carrier bags is a great alternative. Keep any gift bags and reuse those too. And you can use old Christmas cards as the tags.
Get real - Ditch the plastic wreaths in exchange for a DIY real one as they're cheaper and much better for the environment. Picking up fallen sprigs of winter greenery from your garden or local park (with permission) — holly, pine, and eucalyptus are great examples — doesn't cost a penny and makes for a fun (and festive) afternoon.
Light it up - Candles are certainly a big part of the holidays and definitely add to that Christmas feel. Rather than paraffin-based candles, we'd recommend switching to options made from natural wax. It's more sustainable and also better for your health.
Get creative - Decorations made from recycled wood, fabric, and glass make great alternatives to plastic or PVC options that are non-recyclable. Make your own decorations and get creative with what you have or what you can find (from nature or second hand).