1. Wrap smart
Wrapping paper contributes to an inordinate amount of waste each Christmas, with many people opting not to recycle their wrapping paper in order to have a quicker Christmas clean up. So, make sure to recycle or reuse your paper!
It can also be difficult to tell whether your paper is recyclable or not, so use the simple âscrunch testâ on your paper: if you scrunch the paper into a ball and it holds its shape, it can be recycled. If it unravels or springs back, it cannot be recycled, so try and fold it up and use for another occasion.
Many stores have now ensured they have a good range of recyclable wrapping, so try to avoid the plastic stuff if you can. Sellotape now also have a plastic-free alternative and if you want to go completely eco-friendly, why not try wrapping presents with reusable scarves or fabric?
2. Oâ Christmas Tree Oâ Christmas Tree
Besma, creator of the amazing Curiously Conscious blog, has some great tips on sustainability, and she let us know some fantastic ways to make your tree as sustainable as possible. Whilst faux trees may last longer; âreal trees are natural, arenât made of plastic, and wonât take 100+ years to rot in a landfill.â
There are also some great initiatives around at the moment, such as The Christmas Forestâs, âwho provides sustainably-grown British and European trees, and for every tree sold, another is planted in Africa through its work withâŻTree Aid.â It just goes to show that with a little bit more planning, you can really make a difference through the choices you make at Christmas.
3. Novelty Gifts Are A No-No
Monika Poppy (of @sustainbilityiscool fame), shared with us her top tip for having an ethical Christmas. This year, Monika says to âskip the cheaper smaller stuffâ, as novelty gifts usually end up in landfill. Be honest and ask yourself, will this be gift be something the recipient will really appreciate and value? If the answer is no, best get thinking on some other ideas.
If youâre getting a Secret Santa gift or another low-cost pressie, Monika suggests to âfocus more on edible gifts or charitable giving in their name. It used to be seen as a lame thing, but weâre at the age where people prefer saving the ocean than creating more plasticâ
4. Second-Hand Doesnât Mean Second Best
Many people seem to worry that if they donât buy someone something new at Christmas it will seem âstingyâ or less special, but that couldnât be more untrue! If youâve taken the time to find a vintage piece that your recipient will love, itâll mean so much more than any mass-produced gift, whether it be worth ÂŁ5 or ÂŁ50. If the person youâre buying for loves homewares, why not find some cute vintage tableware? If theyâre a fashion lover, Depop has some great brands for much more affordable prices.
5. Donât Be Greedy!
This year, itâs been a little tougher to get to the shops, and nice food has been one of our only joys (hereâs looking at you banana bread). But donât take Christmas as an opportunity to bulk buy all of the festive goodies at the supermarket. Every year, we always have eyes bigger than our bellies: weâll order four desserts just in case, hoard the pigs in blankets, and still have all that food in the fridge that mum says not to touch until Christmas Day.
Be mindful that when you buy too much, a lot of this food will end up in the bin, and that isnât exactly in the sustainable spirit now is it? Sadly, in the UK we waste 200,000 tonnes of food each Christmas. Make sure to carefully plan out how much you need for the festive period, and try not to get sucked in by the 3 for 2âs. When you do have leftovers, Besma suggests to put them in a pie!
6. Get creating
You donât have to be a hardcore crafter to whittle up some presents that will be gratefully received. As Sam, aka @sustainable_sparrow says, âyou donât have to go all out, even homemade Christmas cookies mean a lot to people,â (we wouldnât say no to them).
Meanwhile fellow eco-infuencer, @sustainablysimpleâs Heather combines homemade with secondhand for her beautifully bespoke candle gifts. She tells us, âthis year I picked up all my candle containers from charity shops to give them a new lease of life!â