ECO ADVENT: 24 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE FAMILY CHRISTMAS

The world is becoming increasingly eco-conscious and the recent COP26 event has once again brought the state of our environment to the front of many people’s mind… Yet Christmas can be a time of huge consumerism and excess waste. It seems this year, more than ever we need to think about the amount of new ‘stuff’ we need to buy, just because it’s Christmas.

By making small changes, we can all reduce our environmental footprint and the festive season is a great time to start… By thinking about the food we eat, the paper we use to wrap, the number of batteries we buy or the tree we decorate. Together we can make this year our most eco-friendly, sustainable Christmas yet!

Here is the It’s Our Planet Too eco-advent calendar of 24 top tips of how to reduce your environmental footprint this Christmas – don’t worry you can follow us on Instagram for a little reminder every day in December. 

Invest in a reusable advent calendar

Instead of buying a disposable calendar for your kiddies this year, why not consider making your own? Or how about purchasing a wooden advent calendar that you can use each year?

Send eco-friendly or plantable cards

Look for cards with the FSC© mark and that are not wrapped in plastic packing. A zero waste alternative are plantable Christmas cards. When the biodegradable paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds will grow and the paper will decompose.

Rent A Christmas tree

Each year there are more and more places offering a Christmas-tree hire service. Many will even deliver and collect the tree to save you the hassle. And the tree can carry on growing after it's returned. 

Create a homemade wreath

Get your kiddies outside foraging for leaves and berries and together create a wreath that is now only sustainable but a dazzling display of nature!

Take reusable bags with you when you go shopping 

The use of single-use plastic bags has gone down by 95% since the start of the 5p charge, just remember to bring your own when you’re out shopping for pressies this Christmas. 

Switch to LED Christmas Lights

LEDs are much more environmentally-friendly than traditional twinkling lights and use up to 80% less energy. This is because so much less energy is wasted as heat and whilst the bulbs might be more expensive they should last significantly longer. 

Rethink your decorations

Some of the best Christmas decorations emerge year after year – making them instantly sustainable. However, if you’re looking to buy more, stick to designs made from brass, glass and wood. Alternatively get your little ones involved and make you own.

Have a crafty Christmas 

Getting crafty this Christmas - baking, seeing or painting - by making your own presents is a great way to involve your kiddies, help the environment and save some money in the process. Most grandparents would love some handmade gift and a card from the little ones.

Shop locally

Why not give your local shops and markets some love this Christmas. It could save you money, travel, stress and give you the warm glow of knowing that you’re helping a small business. Remember to look for locally made gifts or those made from recycled materials as they are likely to have a lower carbon footprint too.

Make a decoration for the birds

After you’ve decorated your tree, why not get your kiddies involved in making another hanging decoration for the birds? 

Hang seed balls and seeds, or peanut strings from a tree in your garden or a nearby green space. To attract a wide variety of birds, use varied seed types.

Choose the right wrapping paper

Many of us don't realise that gift wrap that contains foil, glitter or plastic can’t be recycled. So before you buy more, try 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 it likely contains non-recyclable elements.

Have you thought of re-gifting?

A recent study found that one in nine Brits will swap their presents after Christmas, but instead of swapping or wasting a gift, why not re-gift? 

If you’re taking part in a Secret Santa, re-gifting makes perfect sense as long as you don’t end up offending the original giver! 

Avoid disposable plastic

It can be tempting to buy disposable cutlery or plastic glasses and cups, but an easy eco-alternative is to ask a friend or family member to bring along their plates, cups or cutlery that can be washed and returned to them. Waitrose & Partners also offer a handy glass loan service.

Buy the right crackers

There are some great eco-friendly alternatives on the market, keep an eye out for recyclable and plastic-free crackers or why not make your own? 

Many of the big high street names have taken steps to make their own label Christmas ranges more environmentally friendly.

Give gifts that will last

Alternatively, you could buy an experience rather than a material thing for Christmas. Once you have decided what to buy, look out for respected eco logos, such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Energy Star and Palm Oil Free.

Buy food from the right places

Buying the ingredients for your meal from local stores and markets will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but will also help you to show your support for local businesses.

Give battery-free gifts

Discarded batteries are an environmental hazard, they contain toxic chemicals, do not biodegrade and are difficult to recycle. 

Have you thought about using rechargeable batteries or even the new USB batteries? Just open the cap and plug them into a USB connector to charge them anywhere. 

Make Christmas travel greener

Whilst Covid might have thrown a spanner in some of our festive plans, many of us will still be hoping to meet up with family and friends if we can. 

If you’re travelling this Christmas then make it a little greener by sharing shopping trips and lifts. Remember to use public transport where it’s safe and possible to do so. 

Reduce your meat consumption

Whilst the thought of a turkey-free Christmas is unthinkable for some, it might be worth trying to reduce the amount of meat consumed during the festive period. 

According to the Soil Association, food is the single most important, everyday way for people to reduce their own environmental impact.

Reduce your food waste

Try not to over buy, but that’s always tricky if there are guests staying. Another option is to use a food waste app such as Olio to connect you with people in need in your local area. Remember to use your composter for scraps too.

Why not gift a charitable donation?

If you need a gift for a child, then the Born Free Foundation offer an adoption scheme that helps provide care and protection for the animal of your choice. Similar schemes are run by the Marine Conservation Society, WWF UK and many other wildlife charities. 

Think about your outfit

If your kiddies have grown out of last years outfit, can you swap with family and friends? 

When you’re planning party outfits for the family, try and resist the temptation to splash out on sequins and opt for sustainable materials instead. 

Choose soy candles

Did you know that paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are toxic to your health and the environment. Candles made from soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based wax are more eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.

Get outside and go for a festive walk

Avoid cabin fever, and get some exercise over the Christmas break. It might be winter and it might be Christmas but you can still get outside and show your kiddies how valuable and beautiful nature is and what exactly is at stake when we don't protect it.

Remember to follow us on Instagram for a little eco-advent reminder every day in December.

Happy Christmas Everyone x