Rethink how you wrap presents

This is a straightforward (and creative!) way to be more sustainable at Christmas. Plastic-based or glittery wrapping paper can’t be recycled, so use fabric or brown recycling paper. There’s something about brown recycling paper wrapped that’s so festive, plus it can be jazzed up with festive fabric and pinecones!

But remember that even recyclable paper must have sticky tape and decorations removed before going in the recycling bin; or don’t use tape and use a string or ribbon instead. Oh, and there’s plenty of origami-folding tutorials online, including Furoshiki, where wrapping fabrics can be reused again and again.

Re-gift unwanted presents

We all have those unwanted presents just sitting there from last Christmas. Why not regift them to someone who’ll love them? (Obviously not back to the same person that would be just rude!) Approximately £42 million of unwanted Christmas presents are thrown out in landfills each year.

You can also donate to charities to ensure children less fortunate and adults less fortunate, such as East End Women, to make sure they have presents under the tree.

 

Eco gifts

Plastic is pretty hard to get away from over Christmas, but you can try to make a conscious effort to avoid it when buying gifts and games. Shop around for plastic-free, wooden items and pick presents that can be reused over and over again.

DECORATIONS

 

Go for a real tree

If you opt for a real Christmas tree, never take it to landfill once the holiday season is over. Many councils will collect your tree for recycling, but if yours doesn’t, initiatives like St Oswald’s Hospice will collect it for you while raising money for hospices and other local charities.

Did you know you can buy a pot-grown tree? This means that when Christmas is over, you can plant it in your garden or re-pot it and use it again next year, giving you a  tree for life.

 

Switch to eco-friendly crackers

Christmas lunch isn’t complete without crackers – but do you really need another plastic mini plastic comb or fortune-telling fish? Instead, try buying eco-friendly crackers which use little to no plastic and are made from recyclable materials.

And why not make your own crackers out of material like loo roll and fabric scraps?  There are plenty of guides online. Add that special personal touch by using presents of your choice and reuse the crackers every year!

 

Buy LED Lights

Whether you’re lighting up just the tree or your entire house, make sure you choose energy-efficient bulbs this year. We recommend buying LED lights that use very little energy and are long-lasting. Avoid battery-powered lights if you can, as batteries can leak harmful chemicals once disposed of. Oh, and remember to turn off your tree lights at night and when you’re out of the house – it’s safer and won’t cost the earth.