8 ways to make your Christmas Sustainable this year
I know the "C" word is already looming upon us (in 3 weeks to be more exact), but it feels like Summer was only yesterday. I don't know about you but I really don't know where the time has gone this year. Ever since the pandemic, to be honest with you, I kind of lost track of time. Time has become, as Einstein said, very "relative" to me.
Alas, Christmas is coming! But, it doesn't have to be a time of stress, spending, and chaos organising it. It can be sustainable. Christmas can be a time for slowing down, of living in the moment. A time to be present around our loved ones.
And I for one am all up for that!
So can we have a more Sustainable Christmas this year? Yes, we can. And here are 8 ways in which you can do that.
No.1 - Choose a Grown in Britain certified tree/rent one
In the last couple of years, more and more options for alternative Christmas trees have become available for those of us who are mindful of the rising planet issues.
So you can choose a tree with an FSC Certification to confirm that it has been sourced sustainably, or you can find one that is grown in the UK. You can have a look here.
Or, if you don't want the hustle of disposing of the tree after the Winter holidays, another option can be to rent a Christmas tree.
Photos Candle on branch via pinterest, woman via elenamodastyle, oranges via pinterest, female body candle via interlude candles on etsy
No.2 - Re-use Christmas decorations
Instead of buying new (especially single-use) decorations, why not re-use the decorations you already have? Or, to keep costs down this year you can buy second-hand decorations (if you need to get new ones).
Alternatively, you can try to make your own Christmas decoration, which is a lovely family activity, especially for those of us who have kids or friends with kids who will be visiting over the Holidays.
No.3 - Choose gifts that last or experiences that also help local businesses (i.e. workshops or crafting lessons, etc.).
I can say from personal experience that the temptation of buying presents that the family would enjoy is real. However, I've noticed this with myself too, at least in my family, we receive gifts we don't really need or use because we either have something similar or we just don't like it. This creates clutter and stress on how to dispose of it because it simply takes up precious space in the home.
So, instead, we can opt for gifts that last, such as a plant or an item that can be used in cooking, items that we know are needed and would be used. Or, we can offer an experience, such as a ticket to a theatre play, or a workshop that we know our loved ones would love. This way we are also supporting small and local businesses, so it's a win-win.
No.4 - Shop locally
I think this one is a given. Giving your local shops, independent businesses or markets some love this Christmas will not only help them and the economy but by doing so, you're more likely to find some unique or special gifts that you won't get from the high-street shops.
Did I mention the personal touch you get from small independent businesses? I'll definitely be doing this, this year.
No.5 - Give a handmade gift
If money is a worry for you this year (like it is for many of us, to be honest), why not give handmade gifts a try to keep costs down? I used to love doing this as a kid, but the best ones that come to mind are Christmas wreaths or decorations, home-baked cookies or cakes, photo albums, etc.
In the end, Christmas is all about spending time with your loved ones, and I think the pandemic highlighted that even more in our minds.
Photos hand around candle via 91 magazine, star light via pinterest, tree on bench via pinterest
No.6 - Switch to eco-friendly/recycled wrapping paper.
According to Google, the UK uses 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, with over 83km2 of this ending up in bins. This means that the average household uses about four rolls of wrapping paper.
And this is paper that is used once and then thrown away.
So let's do something about that. Let's change the way we think and use wrapping paper for presents in general. Switching to eco-friendly/certified paper/recycled paper is a step in the right direction.
If you want to go a step further, you can use alternatives such as fabric wrappings (which can double up as a fashion accessory - win-win) or handmade wrapping using wool, wood, rattan, hemp, jute, etc. Literally, the choice is yours.
No.7 - Sending E-Cards
I love a handwritten Christmas card as much as anyone, but according to Imperial College researchers, a stunning 1.5 billion Christmas cards are thrown away by UK households each year. While I am a big fan of writing "old school" letters (there is nothing quite like receiving such a letter from a friend in the post), when it comes to Christmas wishes, going for E-cards not only saves you a bit of money but you also eliminate waste too.
There are so many apps out there these days that can help you with that, one being Canva just off the top of my head. Ps - not receiving anything from Canva to name them, I just genuinely love the platform. It's super easy to use and has a lot of creative options.
No.8 - Cutting down on food waste
I am sure you already do this but just a friendly reminder, when you're food shopping, choosing items that are lightly packaged, or even better, loose items, can make a difference. Also, freezing any leftovers can be a great way to create new meals, save money and cut waste.
Alternatively, you can donate any surplus food you have to food banks.
So to recap
No.1 - Choose a Grown in Britain certified tree/rent one
No.2 - Re-use Christmas decorations
No.3 - Choose gifts that last or experiences that also help local businesses (i.e. workshops or crafting lessons, etc.).
No.4 - Shop locally
No.5 - Give a handmade gift
No.6 - Switch to eco-friendly/recycled wrapping paper.
No.7 - Sending E-Cards
No.8 - Cutting down on food waste
So there you have it, detail lover. 8 ways you can have a sustainable Christmas this year, more peace of mind, and save some money in the process.
I do hope this blog post has given you some food for thought on what you can do this year, if you want to, of course.
Until next time, let your imagination run wild!
Rx
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