How To Have a Gloriously Green Xmas

The season of gluttony, giving and greenery is upon us. However it’s also often a time of garbage, with Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years producing huge amounts of waste as the nation takes time off to engage in feasting, partying and shopping.

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It’s estimated that an extra 30% of rubbish is produced and discarded during the festive period (3 million tonnes of waste). As more and more people wake up to the environmental damage caused by mass consumption, the most pressing issue ahead of the economy, crime and immigration, we’ve collected some of the best ways to ensure a kinder Christmas, without sacrificing any of the magic.

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1.    Christmas trees

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With 7 million Christmas trees being tossed into landfill each year, it’s important to find more ways to re-purpose and re-cycle.

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A pot grown tree with its roots in tact could be re-planted in the garden to be enjoyed all year round, or your local council may offer a recycling scheme.

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When buying fresh trees for Christmas, try and source them from Forestry England who use sustainable forests with short transportation lines, or look for a Forest Steward Council (FSC) logo when shopping in stores.

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You can also rent trees from sites like lovechristmastree.co.uk who both deliver and collect. Or if you have an artificial tree, it has to last a minimum of 10 years in order to be less harmful than a real one according to the Carbon Trust.

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2.    Crafty cards

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Do you have any of the cards you received last Christmas? Although it’s a sentimental tradition, it’s worth asking if they’re worth sending this year, especially with options such as e-cards being available online.  

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However if the Christmas card is a staple for you, it’s worth sourcing eco-friendly options, by looking for the FSC logo to ensure the paper was sourced responsibly. Try to avoid things like glitter, which are not biodegradable and can’t be recycled.

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Companies like Tree Cards plant a tree for every card sold, using 100% recycled materials. Loop Loop are a brand that produce plantable cards, with each one being made of compustable material containing seeds that can be planted in the garden for the new year.

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3.    Wrapping without the wreckage

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Up-cycle those left over gift bags you’ve stored in the airing cupboard or try to use brown recyclable paper or newspaper as edgy alternatives. You can find companies online that sell 100% recycled or recyclable paper, or offer up re-usable fabrics like wrap wrap, which has buttons for gifting without tape.

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Avoid ribbons and tinsel which look beautiful but have ugly effects on recycling plants. They often get stuck in the machinery and cause huge problems as they are not  made of recyclable materials . An alternative is hemp cord or twine decorated with foliage.

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4.    Dodge the dodgy decorations

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Swap the fairy lights for energy efficient bulbs and do your part for both reducing the carbon footprint and negatively affecting nocturnal wildlife. Swap things like tinsel for natural foliage (pine cones or bits of fir tree), and find sustainable decorations that can be used over and over again. You could even make your own decorations and have fun with the kids, with edible ornaments always going down a treat.

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When using things like candles, choose natural alternatives like those made from soy or natural beeswax. The paraffin options are made from petroleum which is not good for your health or the environment.

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5.    Crackers that aren’t crackers

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Forget the mini screwdrivers, strange toys and random bits of tack, and source some eco-friendly table bangers this Christmas. Look for the FSC certification and try sourcing plastic-free brands like Nancy and Betty.

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Alternatively you could fill your own crackers using a re-useable ‘Keep this Cracker’, which come straight to your door, adorned with decorative ribbons made of recycled plastic bottles. They slide open instead of tearing, but you won’t be deprived of getting that classic ‘bang’ for your buck.

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6.    Christmas dinner

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According to FoodCycle, we waste 5 million puddings, 2 million turkeys, and 74 million mince pies every year in the UK – enough to feed a small army.

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Downloading apps like Olio help unused food to be put to good use by others in the local area. Compost all your food peelings to help breakdown the vegetable food waste into rich soil nutrition.

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And if a nut roast seems too nutty and you can’t go cold turkey on the turkey, at least try to buy organic and free range. It’s always best to try and buy food grown in the local area as far as possible, and defrost your freezer before the festivities begin to make space for leftovers.

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7.    Green Gifts

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In the expansion of the sharing economy, perhaps consider more digital gifts over physical ones – subscriptions, vouchers, or experience days are great examples.

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There are plenty of green and ethical options that give back, for example The Soap Co has a strong social and environmental ethos, employing disabled and disadvantaged people to create handmade goods.

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When deciding what to buy, try to source locally and go battery-free, with the EPA estimating that 40% of all battery sales occur during the holiday season, even rechargeable ones find their way into the waste stream eventually. Solar and naturally-powered alternatives are a great compromise.

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If you have the skill and the time, consider making your own gifts which will be priceless in their sentimental value, and perhaps a little kinder to the purse.

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If you receive a gift you don’t like, take a look at our piece on re-purposing, selling and recycling these here. You could also try purchasing from Charity Shops, or simply waiting until you really need something during the year to use up the ‘Christmas credit’.

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8.    Reconnect with nature

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Take some time away from snoozing in front of the TV to reconnect with the natural environment, go on a family stroll or hike and leave some food out for the birds. Nature is a huge source of wellbeing and a soothing away to discover the diversity in the local area. It’s a great time for reflection on the meaning of Christmas to you and your family, taking back the real spirit of what its all about.

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