Did you know that Father Christmas originally wore green? Well, we all know that green is good, so here’s our suggestions on how to have a green Christmas this year.
Go eco friendly with your wrapping paper
Did you know that bows and ribbons aren’t biodegradable? Glittery paper as fun as it is, isn’t biodegradable either – we all know its what’s inside that counts, so rather than buying pretty wrapping paper that you can’t recycle, why not use brown paper or reuse paper from previous years? You can even make your own gift tags!
The same with your Christmas cards
Rather than buying cards that are made out of a non recyclable material, make sure to look out for cards that have either been made out of previously recycled materials or are marketed as being recyclable. You can reuse cards from previous years or even make your own if you’re feeling creative! Getting post at this time of year is always exciting but you can lower your carbon footprint even more by sending an ecard or donating to charity instead of buying cards for friends and family.
Choose your crackers carefully
Many crackers aren’t recyclable, so be sure to look out for reusable crackers that can be used year after year or pick up some that don’t contain plastic.
Don’t waste food
We’re all guilty of wasting food at Christmas. This year, why not challenge yourself to use up as much of the Christmas food shop as possible by making meal plans to use up any left overs? You can also make sure to choose more sustainable ingredients by using local suppliers.
Picking your tree
If you celebrate Christmas (or even if you don’t!), you’ll likely want a tree of some description, and not all of them are environmentally friendly. Many of us use an artificial tree, which is good in one way because you can reuse it and won’t need to replace it every year. However, to reduce your plastic waste, having a real tree is better – the thing is, not all trees are created equal. If you’re going to choose a real tree, make sure to look out for ones that are FSC certified and by buying one locally. Once the season is over, some tree farms will take the trees back to replant for the following year or you can donate them to animal centres or recycle them.
Will you be having an eco friendly Christmas this year? Get in touch to share your suggestions for going green on Facebook and Twitter, @ukfamilymatters
