Want to celebrate the festive season but are conscious about your carbon footprint? Take a peek at our cheat sheet for how to have a more sustainable holiday!
1. Gifts
1.1.
Materials
Look for logos – recycled materials/FSC.
Consider trying for a Plastic Free holiday season!
Try to avoid products with batteries.
1.2. Products
Go for quality over quantity! Buy something that will last!
Consider an item that is reusable, such as a Keep Cup or water bottle.
Why not give a living gift? Plants make an excellent present, with lots of houseplants available that grow in low light and are hard to kill!
What about a gift that gives back? Subscriptions to charitable organisations that your loved ones care about make a very thoughtful gift.1.3. Corporation
Consider the corporation you are buying products from, do they uphold your values? Do you want to find a company that has sustainability as a priority? Consider using a service such as CoGo.
Many gifts can be purchased from charitable organisations to raise money for a cause you or your loved ones cares about.
1.3. Corporation
Consider the corporation you are buying products from, do they uphold your values? Do you want to find a company that has sustainability as a priority? Consider using a service such as CoGo.
Many gifts can be purchased from charitable organisations to raise money for a cause you or your loved ones cares about.
2.Wrappings
2.1. Recyclable vs non-recyclable
Scrunch test! If your paper stays scrunched it’s good to recycle, if not it potentially contains plastics and is not recyclable.
Consider using alternatives to traditional plastic-containing wrapping paper, such as reusable gift bags, tissue paper, brown packaging paper.
Consider using alternatives to clear tape, as wrapping paper with clear tape cannot be recycled. Alternatives include paper tape, string, ribbons.
Avoid anything with glitter!
2.2. Sustainable alternatives
Look for FSC approved products!
If you just have to have that sparkle, look out for biodegradable glitter.
You can decorate your wrappings with reusable decorations like stamps and natural features like sticks and leaves.
Consider reusing last year’s Christmas cards as tags for this year’s presents!
3. Decorations
3.1. What to avoid
Avoid glitter! Glitter is a micro-plastic that is usually non-recyclable. There are biodegradable options available.
Try to avoid plastics and bulky packaging.
3.2. Crafting ideas
You can craft your own decorations using what you find out in nature! Consider going on a winter walk this festive season to collect natural materials to build with. Please take care not to take too much.
3.3. Sustainable alternatives
Home crafted decorations make wonderful gifts for loved ones!
Long-lasting decorations made from plastic alternatives can help you cut down on plastics this festive season.
Edible decorations leave no waste!
3.4. Christmas trees
If you want to buy an alternative to a live tree, plastic trees are a good option should you buy high quality that you will reuse over multiple years.
You can responsibly dispose of your tree after the festive season through your local council. Many local council’s and businesses (e.g. www.cambridgechristmastrees.co.uk) in the UK have specific kerb-side Christmas tree recycling schemes, consider searching what the Cambridge City council is doing, or talk to your tree supplier about what options are available.
4.Food
4.1. ‘Reindeer’ food
‘Reindeer’ food is food for wildlife strewn on a lawn or placed in an accessible green space.
No glitter!
Consider what species you want to attract, and remember that if you want to use a feeder it will need refilling.
Pet shops often sell mixtures of bird and wildlife feed, why not purchase locally?
4.2. Festive sustainable treats
Try to purchase seasonal locally grown produce. Look for the Red Tractor symbol for British grown produce.
It may be a challenge, but try to consider the amount of packaging that comes with your food, and don’t forget to rinse before recycling food containers otherwise they can contaminate other recyclables while being processed.
Why not try some vegetarian or vegan options this festive season? Or alternatively, consider avoiding red meats such as beef and lamb.
Don’t forget to consider your food miles! Buy local to support your local community and reduce your food miles.
Some food items contain plastic that you may not have been aware of. Did you know many tea bags contain plastic, either in the bag or in the glue which means they cannot be composted or recycled? Look for plastic-free alternatives or go loose-leaf!
