8 Simple Tips For A More Eco-Friendly Christmas
You may have swapped out your plastic water bottle for a reusable number and your carrier bags for a few totes, but it’s easy to forget the sustainable hacks you’ve adopted over the last couple of years when you’re caught up in the festive fluster. To help you stay on track, we’ve rounded up eight simple tricks to help you have a more eco Christmas.
From handmade gifts to recycled wrapping paper, read on to inspire your eco Christmas ahead.
Get creative and make your own Christmas decorations
Before you start panicking, it’s easier than you think! If, like me, you’re slacking on the Christmas decoration front this year, rather than rushing out to the shops or scrambling the internet for quick fixes, get crafty and make your own.
It can be as simple as foraging in your garden or local park, hunting down acorns, pinecones and festive foliage to make a rustic centrepiece for the dining table or grabbing some wire and trying your hand at making your own homemade wreath.
Get creative and order some air-drying clay to make your own dainty stars and tree shapes to hang with a ribbon on the tree or get the kids involved and make edible hanging decorations for the tree. If you don’t want to bake, Biscuiteers do a great DIY bauble kit, meaning you can decorate the tree with biscuits and tuck into the creations once you’ve finished.
There are also great bauble kits on Etsy too, including this punch needle kit or grab this adorable tree ornament decorating kit. All that’s left to do is pop on the Christmas tunes, whack out the crafting kits and get creative with your own little helpers.
Look for an alternative to the usual artificial tree
I’m not saying chuck the artificial tree that you’ve already got. Make the most out of it for as long as possible rather than ditching it for a newer model. But for those who love the fresh fragrance of a traditional pine, make sure to do your research.
It’s estimated that around eight million Christmas trees are bought in the UK each year and the majority of the time, they end up at your local landfill site or rotting at the back of your garden. Instead, look into different ways that are more sustainably friendly. For example, London Christmas Tree Rental lets you pick out and rent a tree, before returning it to be enjoyed for another season. Right now, they’re all sold out but do encourage Londoners to email in as they may have cancellation spots. Meanwhile, tree rental service Christmas on the Hill has a few trees left for the season.
Potted trees are also great alternatives to your usual sawed-off option. These will need a little TLC and watering, but you can then repot them in your garden once the festive season ends and can be enjoyed all year round before you dig it up for next year. There are also a few great alternative trees; look to places like Not On The High Street for some examples.
Swap to recycled paper or fabrics
As much as the sparkly-designed paper may look pretty under the tree, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to recycle it after one single use. Swap to recycled paper and jute twine. You can still make the presents just as perfect by using the twine as a ribbon and swapping out the Sellotape too. Or, do away with the paper altogether and wrap your gifts with old fabric or scarves; the scarves can double up as a gift too. Add a sprig of holly, mistletoe or festive foliage and it’ll look just as cute, if not cuter, than the usual sparkly gifts under the tree.
Cosy up the dinner table
Here at The Handbook, we love a good tablescape but there are a few simple steps you can swap to create a more eco Christmas setting. For a real countryside vibe, head out and forage for mistletoe, holly or even cut off excess pine from your Christmas tree and make your own DIY rustic centrepiece. Let loose and get stuck in, taking inspiration from nature with your setting.
No festive tabletop is complete without place cards. Refrain from buying online and grab some recycled card to whip up your own. Test out your calligraphy skills and make unique, personalised ones that everyone will love.
Switch to more environmentally friendly crackers
Let’s face it, the usual tat-filled Christmas crackers are rather pointless. Nobody really wants that miniature doll’s comb and the yoyo certainly doesn’t make it past the five minutes of dining table entertainment. If you don’t want to do away with the classic Yuletide tradition or love the sweet pleasure of hearing the cracker pull, switch to a more eco option.
There are so many brilliant brands creating reusable alternatives these days, complete with velvet designs, embroidered linens and monogrammed fabrics. We love these personalised fabric options from Posh Totty Designs Creates.
FOREVER CRACKERS is another great place to look for beautifully finished reusable crackers. Choose from their array of fabric designs and pick your favourite cracker gifts, from crystals to miniature pick-me-up alcoholic beverages. Once used, you can reuse them time and time again. Check out our Christmas cracker guide for more options.
Cut down on food waste
It’s estimated the UK throws away 9.5 million tonnes of food every year, and with Christmas around the corner, it’s a good time to try to think about how you can reduce your food waste this winter. Selection boxes adorn every shelf, bakeries throw in some cranberries to their best-selling products and we’ll admit we’re already picturing the piles of roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and Yorkshire puds that we’re planning to topple onto our plates come Christmas Day. But, if you do have leftovers lurking in the kitchen, don’t bin them! Rustle up a scrummy bubble and squeak with all of your leftovers the next day, try your hand at a trusty turkey curry, or even take them around to your neighbour to add a little festive sparkle to their day. Food banks are always in need of extra supplies over the Christmas period so grab your excess tins and packets you overbought on your food shop and donate to those who need them most.
Mix up the usual Christmas card situ
Forgo the dreaded journey to the Card Factory this Christmas and send some more eco-friendly gifting cards instead. Wildflower Favours does some adorably designed cards that include wildflower seeds. Each recipient can then plant and enjoy long after Christmas is truly over, and see their garden flourish with wildflower seed species come spring-summertime. Or, simply create your cards from scratch. Make an afternoon out of it with your little ones, painting pretty festive scenes onto card.
Think carefully about the gifts you’re giving
It’s easy to fall into a gifting trap when it comes to the Christmas crunch point, but you can gift sustainably if you think carefully about what you’re after. If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands at the moment and fancy getting creative, why not try your hand at making gifts? From baking sweet treats to hand-making your own soaps, there’s plenty of fun to be had here. Here are a few handmade tips to help you get started.
Regifting is also totally fine! If you’ve received something previously that you no longer use or need, gift it to someone who will give it a new lease of life.
For those looking to treat a loved one to something extra special, try Rêve en Vert, an online platform for sustainable living. Shop everything from organic beauty products to staple ethical clothing pieces. London ethical brand Saint & Sofia is also another clothing brand that puts sustainability at the forefront of its brand. Looking for more? Check out our guide to the best sustainable fashion brands to know.