Dreaming of a white Christmas? We are too, but have you thought about making it a little more green this year? We’ve got a few tips to inspire you to choose more sustainable options and get that Christmas feel good glow.
Choose a living tree
The tree is the main decoration at Christmas, but what to pick? An artificial tree that lasts years or a real tree? The most environmentally friendly option is a living tree in its own pot. You can pop it back in the ground and let it grow once Christmas is over. Even better, a tree’s carbon footprint is reduced by 80% if it’s repurposed rather than being left to degrade, according to the Carbon Trust. You can even rent a tree from Green Elf Trees in London! Now there’s a sign of the times.
Eco friendly decorations
Once you’ve got your tree, how about making your own decorations? It’s easy on the pocket and nice family thing to do on the run up to the big day. Paper decorations are fun, from paperchains to snowflakes, and if you’re creative how about a wreath made with foliage from your own garden? Perfect to welcome guests and show off your arty side.
Green cards and wrapping paper
Any wrapping paper with glitter, shiny foil dye or plastic can’t be recycled. Yes, it looks pretty but it’s not great in landfill. There are companies like Re-wrapped that offer recycled paper and cards using unbleached and vegan materials. Or how about choosing recycled brown paper and decorating it with ink stamps and red and green twine? It’s really festive and really lowers our impact. You can even buy biodegradable washi tape rather than sticky tape which also helps the planet.
Recycled fabrics for cosiness
Warm winter clothing can be super eco friendly too. We have a range of gorgeous pieces that look after you and the planet. Choose from our lovely dressy Recycled Print Top, with its smart cowl neck and its easy fit. Perfect to dress up or down.
To make the most of the stunning frosty mornings, we have a Recycled Thermal Jumper in a bright coral shade, or an olive High-neck Jumper, also thermal and yes, also made from recycled fabrics. You can even benefit from a Thermal Oversized Parka to keep you warm and love the fact that it has recycled fibres too.
Cut your waste and recycle
At Christmas time there’s a 30% rise in rubbish, with an extra three million tonnes of waste produced. So it’s a good time to step up your recycling habits. Our special Set of Three Recycling Bags is a great idea to separate waste. Use them individually or fasten them together for ease. They have handles making popping them out for collection a doddle.
More tips to improve your sustainability
Before we go, we have some extra ideas to help over the festive time. Shopping local is a great idea to reduce food miles and support independent businesses. It’ll save on fuel costs too. If you’re visiting family, how about popping on public transport? Again, it’ll save fuel and give the kids a fun adventure.
Keeping an eye on your energy use at home goes without saying. Cook two meals at once to make the most of your oven, switch off lights and use timer switches to save more electricity. Don’t over buy your food and do get creative with leftovers. You can rustle up amazing dishes with all the spare veg.
And finally think about buying your gifts from socially responsible companies. Try a reusable water bottle, or vintage pieces for the home.