How to Make Christmas More Eco-Friendly

Why not give the greatest gift of all and go green?

All Credits: PA

It’s not long to go until the big Christmas countdown, and as the old adage goes: charity begins at home.

So why not mark the moment, make a difference to the planet and focus all your festive entertaining, gifting, decos and favourite treats on helping the environment?

With so many eco-friendly choices out there, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to be hosting, toasting and celebrating sustainability…

The tree

A real fir and the scent of pine is always a joy, but is the real deal eco-friendly? For peace of mind, Friends of the Earth suggest looking for the FSC-certification (Forest Stewardship Council) when buying yours; otherwise re-use your fake tree and get creative with the kids and dress it with decorations made from wool, paper and wood.

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Oh Christmas Tree @tregothnan where for every tree cut, six more are planted! Bring it back after Christmas to shred for chippings! How green is that!! #sustainablechristmas #tregothnan #cornwall

A post shared by @ welcoming_estates_website on Dec 10, 2019 at 1:01am PST

Christmas lights

Whether they’re topping the garland on the fireplace or branches on the tree, fairy lights are one of the most magical features – just make sure they’re LED (which are more energy efficient) and you’ll find there are strings of LED solar fairy lights to choose from too.

Wrapping presents and greeting cards

Recyclable brown paper may not sound glitzy, but take comfort in the fact it can be jazzed up with eco-friendly ribbon, or how about wrapping with fabric? Reclaim that printed blouse or cotton scarf from the kids’ dressing up box (or charity shop drop) and cut to size.

And if you’re not the crafty type, check out Pinterest for inspiration. Plus, there’s a vast array of recyclable and compostable cards out there.

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It's Waste Reduction Week here in Canada. And we are all over it. That INCLUDES entering the holiday season using recyclable wrapping paper options.⁠ ⁠ We will have our OWN more sustainable versions for wrapping in the shop COMING SOON:⁠ > Cute bows made out of magazines⁠ > Paper tape that's recyclable⁠ > Wrapping paper (if we find the right one)⁠ > Cloth bags perfect for gifts⁠ > Free wrapping options from our shipping packaging⁠ ⁠ What do YOU use for wrapping alternatives? We want to know!!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #littlegreengrocery #littlegreengrocers #dtstratford #stratfordon #visitstratford ⁠ #refillable #refillablebottles #refillstation #refills #noplastics #noplasticbags #noplasticwaste #noplasticplease #reducereuse #cleanproducts #paperwrapping #papertape #recyclablewrapping ##recyclablewrappingpaper

A post shared by The Little Green Grocery (@tlgreengrocery) on Oct 24, 2019 at 4:30pm PDT

Cut out plastic

Pulling back on plastic is actually easier than you think, especially when you consider how many times you’ve saved on the 5p single use plastic bag charge by stuffing everything into your canvas shopper.

‘Tis the season to buy loose fruit and veg, make the switch to tap water and light the little’uns’ eyes up with plastic-free toys.

Party season beauty

Yep, it is possible to nail the look with non-toxic, chip-resistant polish in recyclable packaging. Perfect your brush strokes with bamboo make-up brushes along with make-up essentials such as bamboo cotton buds, and even biodegradable cosmetic glitter.

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Not only is the paper used on our wraps 100% recyclable (the pretty, colourful packaging your products arrive in), but they are also printed using vegetable-based ink, specifically soy oil, which means they are better for the environment This form of ink is renewable, biodegradable and easier to recycle than traditional petroleum-based ink, which can emit toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. We're trying to play our part in creating a healthier, greener, more empowered world and we'd love you to join us on our journey . . . #tropic #tropicskincare #tropicbeauty #tropicmakeup #vegan #veganskincare #veganbeauty #veganmakeup #veganproducts #crueltyfree #crueltyfreeproducts #crueltyfreemakeup #crueltyfreeskincare #crueltyfreebeauty #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyskincare #ecofriendlybeauty #ecofriendlymakeup #healthyskin #naturalglow #awardwinning #awardwinningbeauty #ethicalbeauty #environmentalpackaging #recycable

A post shared by Tropic Skincare With AnnMarie (@tropicwithannmarie) on Oct 29, 2019 at 5:49am PDT

Meat-free festive lunch or dinner

Embrace a plant-based diet or at least try to eat less red meat. Make the choice to go Christmas food shopping mindfully, and you can reduce your carbon footprint.

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Retailer announcement: Dunedin’s @kind.grocer will be stocking out Roast Furkey, as well as many other GG treats. Go see them today, pick up some Plant Pastrami or vegan Mozzarella and pre-order your Christmas Roast so you don’t miss out! . . #vegandunedin #plantbasednz #nzvegan #dunedin #plantbasedchristmas #roastfurkey #gratergoods #kindgrocer #seitanroast #veganxmas #vegansnz #dunedinvegans #plantbaseddunedin

A post shared by Grater Goods (@grater_goods) on Oct 28, 2019 at 3:24pm PDT

Shop locally, use public transport or have a home delivery

Reap the benefits of the lovely fresh air; invest in an eco-friendly shopping trolley and make the journey by foot; jump on the bus or have your shopping delivered – all of which can help cut carbon emissions.

Recycle everything

You’re probably doing this anyway, but while it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also one of the most wasteful. Make sure you have enough recycling sacks so you’re not tempted to put things that can be recycled in the rubbish.

Make the most of the microwave

So here’s a thing, microwaves can be more energy efficient than conventional ovens. And there’re far more to this box of tricks than meets the eye. Think boiling water for that cuppa, cooking veggies, heating pumpkin soup, cooking the Christmas pud and microwaving mulled wine by the glass or mug. Cheers!