Save the planet and Christmas
Going green is easy... even at Christmas, says
LET’S be honest, the environment is often the last thing on our minds at Christmastime.
And from plastic presents to nonrecyclable wrapping paper, the waste produced over the festive period spells bad news for our planet.
But going green over the festive season may be easier than you think. A little thought into how you wrap presents or swapping your fairy lights can reduce your impact. What’s more, renting, reusing and repurposing will save you money too. It’s a win win.
Christmas cards > e-cards
While sending Christmas cards is a lovely tradition and a great way to let friends know you’re thinking of them, most cards end up in the bin before the year is out. Switch to sending an e-card. Not only can you find free ones online (got-free-ecards.com), you’ll save on stamps and won’t stress about missing the last post.
Wrapping paper > Material
Many Christmas wrapping paper designs are covered in glitter or foil that can’t be recycled. Instead, use brightly coloured pieces of material, and adopt the Japanese tradition of furoshiki, wrapping gifts in something beautiful that can be reused for years to come. There are lots of how-to videos on YouTube to see how it’s done.
Plastic presents > Personal vouchers
From the packaging to the gift itself, most of the things we give at Christmas have a plastic element. So instead of buying something just for the sake of it, offer a homemade voucher. Adults might like a dinner invitation, while kids will love a hot chocolate voucher.
Single-use crackers > Eco crackers
Christmas crackers are one of the main offenders when it comes to single-use plastic. But the good news is there are many options that are more environmentally friendly. Why not invest in a reusable cracker for each guest (£19.95 for six, keepthiscracker.com)? Or make your own with a set from Marie Curie (£4.99 for six, shop.mariecurie.org.uk). Each one comes with snaps attached, raffia ties, hats and mottos.
Buying outfit > Renting
Save money and the environment by renting your festive outfit instead of shelling out for something new.
By Rotation (byrotation.com) is a new app that allows fashion lovers to rent and lend their wardrobes. So if you’ve got an outfit you’re not wearing, you might be able to make money by lending it to someone else. Other websites to try include hirestreetuk. com and girlmeetsdress. com. Prices start from £10.
Shop-bought dinner > Homemade
We’re not going to lie, popping readyprepared veg in the oven can make cooking Christmas dinner hassle-free. But swapping these for homemade versions is not only better for the environment, it will save you money and taste better too. Look for boxes of veg from Lidl, which sells wonky-looking produce for £1.50 for a 5kg box, or get a
delivery from Oddbox (oddbox.co.uk).
Fairy lights > LED
Swapping your traditional fairy lights for LED versions is a no brainer. LED lights use 80 per cent less energy and if you put them on a timer so they go off at bedtime, you’ll also ensure you always save energy and cash. Opt for solar powered lights for any external decorations to further reduce your bills and the environmental impact.
Christmas jumper > Upcycle
Don’t splash out on a reindeer jumper for just one day of the year – see if you can upcycle one you own. Create something from scraps of material, cut out snowflakes or make a red pom pom for a reindeer nose. If you’re less crafty, check out a charity shop.
Screwtop > Corks
Opt for cork over screwtop for an ecofriendly tipple. Unlike the screwtop, it’s 100 per cent natural, recyclable and reusable. Plus this year, if you return used corks to Majestic Wine (majestic.co.uk), it will send them to the Eden Project, where they will be used as mulch to enrich soils for Mediterranean plants.