Christmas can be a joyful time to spend with our loved ones but it can also be a time of excess – from energy usage to food and drink, general waste and let’s not forget the influx of, well, stuff! However, with more of us keen to make sustainable changes in our daily lives you’ll be pleased to hear there are steps you can take to help encourage positive change and have a green Christmas in 2022.
If you’re dreaming of a ‘green’ Christmas you might be surprised to learn how easy it is to achieve with the help of our top tips and ideas. From making your decorations to buying local and seasonal produce, and mindful gift giving you’ll be well on your way to helping the environment this festive season with a few simple changes.
1. Real or Fake…that is the question?
First of all, the most sustainable Christmas tree is the one you already own. So there’s no need to feel guilty and throw your plastic tree out on the street in shame! Instead, try and keep it in good condition when you take it down in January (or whenever – we’re not judging) so it lasts as long as possible.
If you are in the market to buy one the consensus tends to favour a real Christmas tree locally grown. You can also buy potted Christmas trees that will have an extended life. If you look after it well, you can reuse your potted tree for years to come or plant it in your garden providing habitat and shade for wildlife.
After Christmas, figure out if your tree can be recycled locally into chippings for local parks and woodland areas. Alternatively, take it to your local dump where you can add it to the other green waste or chop it up and stack the wood in your garden to create a habitat for birds and bugs.
If an artificial tree makes the most sense for you check out Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace for a pre-loved tree. Or if you don’t have the floor space, turn your existing houseplant into a modern-looking Christmas tree – all you’ll need is some fairy lights!
2. Sustainable Gift Wrap
Each year in Britain, we throw away enough wrapping paper to roughly circle the globe 9 times. So make sure you choose a recyclable variety. This means staying away from non-recyclable elements like foil, glitter or plastic.
If you want to know if your wrapping paper can be recycled or not, use the scrunch test. Scrunch up the paper in your hands and then let it go. If the paper stays scrunched up then it can be recycled but, if it unfolds by its own accord, then it is likely non-recyclable.
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with some trusty Kraft paper. If the brown paper sounds too understated for Christmas, you can brighten yours up. Second-hand fabric ribbons, decorations saved from previous years, or a festive sprig of holly all look great. Try and keep the sticky tape to a minimum. This cannot be recycled and will need to be removed first.
You can also ditch paper altogether and wrap presents in fabric. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese method of using a cloth to wrap up and transport gifts. The fabric can also double up as part of the gift, such as a silk scarf for example.
Christmas Cards
If you do choose to send cards, buy recycled or FSC-certified cards. Also, avoid those with glitter or plastic elements. If you want extra environmental brownie points you can buy cards made from seed paper to be planted.
And don’t forget any cards you receive yourselves can be made into gift tags for next year!
3. Eat with the Season’s (Greetings)
Most of our favourite Christmas veg heroes are all in season. This includes potatoes, brussels sprouts, carrots, and parsnips – so all the more reason for extra sprouts! Opting for seasonal, organic food means supporting the UK’s farmers. Why don’t you take the pledge to eat more seasonal meals over the festive period this year? You could even try growing your own veg!
Sourcing your turkey and meat joints from local butchers and farmers’ markets will reduce CO2 emissions. However, going vegetarian – or better still, vegan – is the best way to lower your Christmas dinner’s carbon footprint. If you’re not ready to embrace the tofurkey just yet, remember every little helps! Why not try some meat-free meals in the run-up or aftermath instead?
On the subject of food, get creative to reduce food waste at home this Christmas time. That means don’t buy items because they’re traditional if no one actually likes it (Christmas pudding we’re looking at you)!!
There are lots of ideas online to get inspiration when it comes to leftovers. Bubble and squeak, turkey curry, cheeseboard macaroni cheese, or even just a cracker of a Boxing Day sandwich, the possibilities are endless.
Top tip – in the run-up to Christmas have a few freezer dinners to clear some well-needed space.
4. Shop Small and Local
Pledging to shop at your local independent shops at least once a week is a great way to show some love to organic farmers, producers and makers in your area this Christmas. You’ll not only find some amazing seasonal specials and local produce but thoughtful one-of-a-kind gifts. And all while supporting your local economy in the process.
5. The Season of (Meaningful) Giving
Going green over the festive period doesn’t have to mean cutting back on gift-giving. Instead, follow the quality, not quantity mantra. Get creative with your gifts to spark some joy this Christmas with a zero-waste or sustainable gift.
At Christmas, it can be tempting to panic buy presents, particularly when we don’t know what to buy the recipient. However, a recent survey found that 57 per cent of people in the UK receive at least one unwanted gift. To avoid this why not ask people what they want for Christmas – or give them a few options to choose from? Alternatively, organise a Secret Santa between your family so everyone receives one gift (typically of a larger budget due to only having to buy one gift, but that’s up to you).
Other zero-waste gift ideas include:
- Gifting an experience – how about a cooking or baking course?
- Adopting an animal in their name
- Gift a charity membership
Another great way to help the environment – and save some money in the process – is to make your presents if you’re that way inclined. Whether you love baking, sewing, or painting why not get creative this season? If you’d rather leave it to the experts attend a Christmas craft fair to buy an ethical and thoughtful handmade gift.
6. Deck the Halls…with Eco-friendly Decorations
The best eco-friendly Christmas decorations are the ones that emerge year after year – making them instantly sustainable. However, if you do need a decoration top-up try your hand at making your own. Go retro with salt dough decorations or bake orange slices and thread them onto the string with some cinnamon sticks. Delightful!
You can also bring the outside in by foraging for red berries, pine cones, holly leaves and mistletoe…all great for making a wreath too!
If you need to buy why not head to your local second-hand shop to find some pre-loved options? Also look out for decorations made from materials such as brass, glass and wood…even paper!
Think about your lights too. Switch to LED lights on your tree – they use less energy, last longer and look just as good! And don’t forget to store your non-perishable decorations carefully at the end of the year to make sure they get to come out year after year.
7. A Sustainable Table
Christmas dinner and the resulting mountain of dirty dishes are normally pretty unavoidable, but try and resist the urge to use disposable dishes. Fabric napkins and tablecloths can also be washed and used again and again.
If candles are your thing look for natural ingredients like beeswax, coconut wax, or soy wax which are more sustainable and better for you and the planet.
The ever-popular Christmas cracker can also be a huge contributor to waste in the UK. Most cannot be recycled and the plastic toys normally end up in the bin before the meal is even over. So instead keep an eye out for recyclable and plastic-free crackers – you can even find reusable crackers in some stores.
Better still, why not create your own crackers for a personalised touch this year? Use Kraft paper for DIY Kraft crackers and fill them with plastic-free surprises for a stylish, eco alternative.
8. The Merry and Bright Kind of Energy
It’s easy to make have an eco-friendly Christmas with just a little extra thought. You can still have a fabulous time whilst being mindful of the environment.
If you’re ready to implement sustainable habits all year round, now could be the perfect time to invest in renewable energy! A sustainable Christmas in 2022 is just the start. With a solar plus battery storage solution, you can power up next year’s Christmas dinner with the renewable energy of the sun!
Get in touch with AES Solar today and we’ll shine a light on the best solar solution for your needs.
