Christmas is just around the corner and here are some ideas for reducing your ecological footprint this season.
It’s all too easy to leave it to the last minute and dash to the shops in a frantic search for presents. But there's still just about enough time to give it a bit of thought. You could make something, find something vintage or second-hand, maybe you have a skill to share or want to give to charity on someone else's behalf.
But if all that simply won’t wash with some friends or family there are many things you can buy that won’t cost the earth. Gifts that are eco-friendly and sustainable. If you’re looking for something unique & plastic free that will last a lifetime then check out our gift guide.
In the UK alone, we use 227,000 tonnes of wrapping paper every year and 40 million rolls of sellotape! So why not make the switch from the shiny unrecylable wrap and sellotape to uncoated paper and string, that can go straight in the recycle bin. Even better, why not try wrapping your gifts in scarves or fabric that can be repurposed each year. Check out this blog on the ancient art of Furoshiki gift wrapping to make your gifts look extremely special!
Yes, bringing the faithful box of vintage tinsel and ancient relics from school Christmas crafts is the greenest way to go! But if your decorations need a bit of spicing up then check out Plastic Freedoms range here.
Bringing a tree into the house is a centuries old Pagan and Christian tradition but it comes with an enormous cost in today's modern world . In the UK we cut down and then throw away 8 million trees. But, if you love a tree, and let’s face it, most of us do, Friends of the Earth have some great tips on how to make sure your purchase is as green as possible ( no pun intended)! If you buy one with roots you can dig it up each year, failing that, you can even rent a tree at some garden centres now.
Food waste at home accounts for 50% of all food waste in the UK . And at Christmas we go into overdrive! We throw out a third of food we buy over Christmas, thats 230,000 tonnes of food thrown away this festive period, including 9,300 tonnes of Brussels sprouts!
Plan ahead and use your leftovers - We’re all guilty of overdoing it at this time of year, but a little prior meal planning can help cut down on food waste. Also check out the food sharing app - Olio. A simple and fun way to share food in your neighbourhood.
If all this seems like more to add in to your frantic schedule think again. All of these changes we need to make come from a place of care, care for the planet, and for workers around the world, so why not include care for yourself! If you don’t want to send cards, you have an extremely valid reason for not doing so. If you don’t want to decorate your house in this years trend, don’t! Just get the box down from the attic and make do. If the idea of sorting out handmade chutney or truffles fills you with dread, don’t worry, there's plenty of ways you can give presents this year without spending a fortune on meaningless stuff destined for landfill.
1.Think about gifts - don’t panic!
2. Plan meals in advance
3. Wrap gifts in fabric or uncoated paper
4. Decorate your house with handmade and natural decorations
5.Think about what Christmas means to you. No need to play by the rules of excess and obligation if you don’t want. After all the planet needs change…!
Before you go…we’ve rounded up 5 fascinating Christmas traditions from around the world .
🎄 🌍 ☃️
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