9 tips for a more sustainable Christmas

Christmas is a time where it’s tempting to buy and consume lots, what with huge meals, piles of gifts and decorations everywhere. But given the effect it’s all having on our planet, this Christmas we’re trying to have do things more simply. Here are a few ideas I’ve had on how to cut back on the consumerism over the festive season. Of course, you don’t need to do all of them! Living more sustainably isn’t all or nothing, and even just a couple of small changes will make a difference.

1. Give low-waste gifts

Instead of buying ‘things’ that will wear out or be thrown away, consider buying people gifts that are no- or low-waste. Giving experiences is a great way to do this, for example, you could buy tickets to a theatre show, or write out a voucher for a few hours of free babysitting for a stressed mum friend. 

Secondhand gifts are a great option too, and don’t have to be cheap purchases from a messy charity shop. For example, consider buying a beautiful piece of jewellry from an antique store, or scouring eBay for preloved wooden toys.

You can even consider giving gifts that will help someone reduce their future waste, like a beautiful safety razor, handmade soap or a low waste vegetable subscription box (like the one from Oddbox).

2. Give fewer gifts

We’ve been totally converted to the idea of giving fewer gifts over the last few years. Not only does it help cut down on waste, but it reduces stress in the run up to Christmas and helps the day itself to be less about receiving and more about spending time with one another.

Doing Secret Santa with adults in your family means you only have to buy one gift, but everyone still has something to open. You could even decide not to do gifts at all, and have everyone bring something delicious to enjoy over the Christmas period. This year we’ve asked family coming on Christmas day not to bring presents, but to bring a nice bottle of wine, delicious chocolates or some tasty cheese. 

When it comes to kids, buying less is still a great option, and helps them to learn to live with less. If you want them to have lots of things to open, consider getting one toy with lots of pieces wrapped individually. Clem enjoys the opening part as much as what’s inside, so in a sense it doesn’t matter what’s inside! In fact, I might even wrap up a big cardboard box as a ‘fort’, and I know he’ll love it as much as anything I’ve bought!

3. Use reusable fabric wrapping rather than paper

This is such an easy switch because fabric wrapping is so beautiful! The art of Japanese furoshiki is the perfect place to start. You can use scraps of fabric you have around the house and leave the edges raw, or for an extra touch, you could hem the fabric so your friend can reuse it. For example, try muslin for a baby gift or a heavy cotton for someone who needs new tea towels.

If you’d still prefer to use paper, look for recyclable paper (you can tell it’s recyclable if it doesn’t spring back too much when you scrunch it). Even better, look for recycled paper, or recycle your own by reusing paper from gifts you’ve received.

4. Meat-free meals

Ok, I know that having turkey on Christmas day might just be a non-negotiable for most people (and if not, then pigs-in-blankets definitely are!) If you’re ready to take the plunge on a plant-based Christmas lunch, that’s the most sustainable way you can do it, but if not, then why not consider doing plant-based meals on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day? 

Plant-based doesn’t have to mean bland nut roasts. A delicious veg-filled risotto or potato-topped pie will go down a storm. And there’s even a growing variety of ready-made vegan options available at supermarkets.

5. Avoid food wastage 

Whatever you decide to cook, one of the biggest things you can do to reduce the environmental impact of your meals is to cut out food wastage. Food waste that ends up in landfill releases the greenhouse gas methane, contributing massively to climate change. If we cut out all unnecessary food waste in the UK, it would be equivalent to taking 1 in 5 cars off the road!

Good preparation is the key to avoiding wastage. Plan to make just enough food for those you’re entertaining, or even better, make a list of recipes before Christmas that will help you use up any leftovers from the meals you’re making. And if you really can’t avoid throwing something away, don’t forget to make use of your food waste or compost heap.

6. Avoid plastic decorations

It’s really easy to accidentally fill your house with plastic at Christmas. Lots of cheap baubles are plastic, as are tinsel and faux greenery (more on trees later). If you’re going to use decorations year after year, there’s less harm in buying plastic, but avoid buying new every year and putting your old decorations into landfill.

If you’re on a budget and can’t afford more expensive glass or metal decorations, try making your own (like I did here) or shop secondhand.

7. Shop local

Shopping local has lots of benefits. Not only will you support small businesses in your area, but you’ll almost certainly avoid buying things that have travelled a long way. Look particularly for handmade gifts and decorations, and consider buying produce from local farms, if you have them in your area.

8. Do cards sustainably 

Gone are the days where etiquette requires sending Christmas cards to everyone you know, so sending cards only where really necessary is a great way to cut down. Buying recycled cards is a good way to do so sustainably, or if you’re sending to tech-savvy friends, try sending e-cards. I love Paperless Post /link for e-cards (and invitations for that matter).

9. Choose a sustainable tree

Deciding whether to buy a real or an artificial tree is a difficult decision, because there are so many factors to take into account. For most people, buying a real tree will be the best option. A 6ft artificial tree has a carbon footprint more than twice as large as that of a real tree that ends in landfill, and more than 10 times that of one which is burnt. 

This increases hugely if your real tree is recycled into wood chippings, a service which lots of councils now offer. The best option of all is to keep your tree growing in a pot or in the garden for use year after year. A living tree could even end up having negative emissions. When buying a tree, look for one that is locally or at least UK produced, and that is FSC certified.

However, if you already own an artificial tree, by far the most sustainable option is keeping that tree out of landfill as long as you can. The majority of artificial trees are made of PVC which is notoriously difficult to recycle, so the best thing you can do is to look after your tree to keep it lasting year after year. And if for whatever reason you need a new artificial tree, opt for a secondhand one.

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