Sadly, when Christmas comes around each year families buy more seasonal bling which carries a negative impact on the environment and also our energy bills. Decorating at Christmas is a ritual embraced by millions around the globe, whatever their beliefs. We would like to show you some support by suggesting you ‘Go Green’ this year and incorporate our 5 eco-friendly tips.
Wrapping paper
In 2016, we threw away no less than 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. Greenpeace recently found that as little as one kilogram of wrapping paper emits three and a half kilograms of CO2 during its production process. This is before we start to take into account the transportation costs and additional present items like Christmas cards and ribbon. Designers have also worked closely to support this idea with Mulberry introducing their reusable Mulberry Eco Friendly Wrap for £11. For a more affordable wrap retailers such as Etsy or Oliver Bonus have sustainable furokishi fabric wraps to make your presents ethical, fashionable and stylish. Don’t ditch the fun but replace it with a more eco friendly option.
Replant, Reuse, Recycle
One way to reduce your environmental impact is by renting a Christmas tree (including decorations) over the festive period and then returning it in the New Year. This aims to keep environmental costs down to a minimum. There are several companies on the market who will deliver your Christmas tree to your door and also collect it at the end of the Christmas period, one for example is ‘Christmas on the Hill’. If a rental service is not for you, The Carbon Trust found that real Christmas Trees have a smaller carbon footprint compared to artificial trees. It is recommended to buy a locally and sustainably grown tree rather than an imported one. Christmas in London is extravagant however there is limited space for Christmas Tree Farms. There are recommended places if you live in London such as ‘The Stem’ which works with Eden Reforestation projects to plant a tree for every order and collect and recycle Christmas trees for free. Another example is Richmond-based ‘The Christmas Forest’ which sources trees from sustainable Christmas tree forests close to London, all with the aim to reduce carbon consumption.
Decorations - A Plastic Free Christmas tree …Wooden It Be Nice
Ditch the plastic wreaths in exchange for the real thing and do your bit to save the planet. Get creative with holly, pine and eucalyptus and together, we can ease contributions to the rubbish pile by using recycled paper and recycling it again after use. Why not pour a mug of mulled wine, get the family round to your home and create your own festive decorations, placemats and tree ornaments by using old wallpaper or even newspapers.
Christmas Lights
Solar Powered lights for outside are a great eco-friendly solution. Even during the winter enough solar energy from day light is collected during the day to power the festive lights in the evening. Set Timers on Christmas decoration lights when you are forgetful. Don’t allow lights on standby to drain your energy. Only 10% of the energy used by each bulb is used to produce light. The rest is lost as heat. LED lights are an alternative that are more efficient and last longer.
Less is more – Always
70% of us admit to buying more food than we need and even throwing the leftovers in the bin. Food production is the biggest cause of tropical deforestation. There are lots of ways to pimp up leftover Christmas turkey or vegetables to reduce the impact on the environment. Check out your local farmers market and buy locally sourced produce that is in season but let’s try to reduce food waste and make it a more eco-friendly Christmas.
