Have yourself a very eco Christmas
The season of tinsel, glitter and wrapping paper is famously bad for the environment – but there are plenty of green swaps you can make. Judy Yorke tries out some planet-loving festive alternatives
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but try telling that to the environment. Christmas comes with wrapping paper that can’t be recycled, stockings filled with cheap plastic and dozens of sweet wrappers filling the bin. Not to mention all the gift tags, cards and even sticky tape destined for landfill.
Here’s how you can have a sustainable, recyclable Christmas.
WRAPPING AND CARDS Reusable wrapping paper,
from £6.30, fabrap.co Living rooms up and down the land are littered with wrapping paper on Christmas morning. If you’re horrified by the amount of rubbish, try FabRap for a good alternative.
It’s a piece of organic cotton that comes from ethical suppliers in India, designed to be reused. You can sneak it back from the recipient while they’re admiring their present or make it part of their gift. There are different designs – we loved the blue and gold midnight reindeer – and three sizes. To seal your gift, simply tie it in a bow.
Recyclable wrapping paper,
£6.75 for three sheets, curlicue.uk If you’d rather something more traditional, this wrapping paper is made from recycled paper and it’s recyclable too. There is no glitter or plastic film and the design is made from vegetable-based ink in the UK.
It comes in a variety of Christmas designs from sophisticated to child-friendly. The paper cuts smoothly and doesn’t tear.
Brown paper framers tape,
£6, amazon.co.uk It’s frightening how much sticky tape we get through wrapping presents, so it’s good to know there are recyclable alternatives out there.
This beats traditional sticky tape hands down. It feels nicer, looks better and it’s easier to pull apart should it stick to itself. No issues finding the start of the roll and it was strong too.
Eco gift tags, £1.50, shop. barnardos.org.uk
These tags from children’s charity Barnardo’s are made entirely from recycled materials and have a pleasing “brown paper packages tied up with string” feel to them.
You get 20 in a pack and they can be recycled. There’s ample space to write on the back.
Mistletoe and Sparkle Christmas cards, £3 for 10, Tesco
For too long, many Christmas cards have had to go in the bin because of all the glitter.
Happily an increasing number of companies are offering cards that go in the recycling instead.
These recyclable Tesco charity cards have a subtly sparkly design, making them kind to the environment, and don’t shed glitter everywhere either. The plastic-free packaging can be recycled too.