Dreaming of a green Christmas...
With so much going on and so much to do, the environment may slip to the back of your mind. With that in mind, I am going to remind and share with you some ways in which you can still celebrate Christmas and be eco-friendly at the same time!
Gift-giving and receiving is a huge part of Christmas so consumerism increases at this time of year. To not only reduce your costs but also help the planet and minimise your carbon footprint, why not buy second-hand? You can purchase second-hand items that are cheap and in good condition in local charity shops. Alternatively, you could choose sustainable products to purchase and avoid companies that are unsustainable.
A huge amount of wrapping paper is used each year but it is not very eco-friendly to do so. Lots of wrapping papers contain plastic which may make the paper non-recyclable, plus anything that contains plastic will take a very long time to decompose. A more sustainable option would be using the underrated brown parcel paper! You can tie string around the present once it is wrapped in this, then you could decorate the paper with pencil drawings or homemade dried orange slices. Also, try to refrain from purchasing wrapping paper that has glitter on! As pretty as it may look, it is just not sustainable as it means that the wrapping paper cannot be recycled!
Food is the single, most important way in which we can reduce our own environmental impact! So, why not try some vegetarian or vegan meals this Christmas? With the internet often at the tips of our fingers, you can access thousands of brilliant and delicious vegetarian and vegan meals created and published by food experts, food bloggers and nutritionists. Eating vegetarian or vegan is really great for the environment as it reduces carbon emissions significantly, saves tons of litres of water and saves lots of land. Plus, it is better for your health and it is generally cheaper too! Whether you have a full-blown vegan Christmas dinner or just one veggie meal, do whatever you can. Lastly, whilst we’re on the topic of food, try to cut down on food waste! If you have purchased more than you need, you can always donate to your local food bank who will greatly appreciate your donations. And if you cook more food than necessary, you can create yummy meals from your left-overs. Don’t let anything go to waste!
Tons of artificial Christmas trees are bought each year despite the fact that they take enormous amounts of energy to produce and will end up becoming waste in the future! If you have got an artificial tree already, keep using it for as long as you possibly can. When it comes to replacing it, please go for a more eco-friendly option! Why not grow your own? You can buy a tree with roots to plant and let it grow outside. Alternatively, you could plant it in a big pot! By growing your own, you are reducing your environmental impact and this will also cost you less! Tip: Make sure you check that your tree has been sustainably grown before you purchase by looking out for the FSC-certification logo and make sure it’s been approved by the Soil Association.
Christmas crackers are great fun but have you ever considered how wasteful they are? Generally, they contain little plastic toys that often get thrown away and the cracker itself is often covered in glitter which means that it is 100% not recyclable. This Christmas, why not make your own Christmas crackers and put toys and other items in them that you know will not go to waste. Alternatively, you can purchase eco-friendly Christmas crackers from Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges, made by a company called Nancy and Betty, that are 100% recyclable and printed using vegetable-based inks on FSC paper and they contain plastic-free gifts! You can also purchase eco-friendly Christmas crackers from Not On The High Street.
And finally, try to create and use natural decorations. You can use fir branches and homemade dried orange slices to create wreaths or garlands to hang around your house and this looks very effective and pretty. You can also use cinnamon sticks along with spruce and homemade dried orange slices to make beautiful candle arrangements. Cranberries are really festive and you could string these together to make a garland to wrap around a tree to replace tinsel! Pine cones and walnuts also make a good decoration. Paper decorations are so pretty and you can make 3D snowflakes and other paper crafts, using recycled paper, to hang up in your home. Get creative during this festive season and see what decorations you can create! If you’re running short on time and you decide to purchase decorations, you can find decorations that are in good condition and not expensive if you look in second-hand.
Wishing you a very merry Eco-friendly Christmas and a happy Sustainable New Year J
Lottie Macro 11A
Gift-giving and receiving is a huge part of Christmas so consumerism increases at this time of year. To not only reduce your costs but also help the planet and minimise your carbon footprint, why not buy second-hand? You can purchase second-hand items that are cheap and in good condition in local charity shops. Alternatively, you could choose sustainable products to purchase and avoid companies that are unsustainable.
A huge amount of wrapping paper is used each year but it is not very eco-friendly to do so. Lots of wrapping papers contain plastic which may make the paper non-recyclable, plus anything that contains plastic will take a very long time to decompose. A more sustainable option would be using the underrated brown parcel paper! You can tie string around the present once it is wrapped in this, then you could decorate the paper with pencil drawings or homemade dried orange slices. Also, try to refrain from purchasing wrapping paper that has glitter on! As pretty as it may look, it is just not sustainable as it means that the wrapping paper cannot be recycled!
Food is the single, most important way in which we can reduce our own environmental impact! So, why not try some vegetarian or vegan meals this Christmas? With the internet often at the tips of our fingers, you can access thousands of brilliant and delicious vegetarian and vegan meals created and published by food experts, food bloggers and nutritionists. Eating vegetarian or vegan is really great for the environment as it reduces carbon emissions significantly, saves tons of litres of water and saves lots of land. Plus, it is better for your health and it is generally cheaper too! Whether you have a full-blown vegan Christmas dinner or just one veggie meal, do whatever you can. Lastly, whilst we’re on the topic of food, try to cut down on food waste! If you have purchased more than you need, you can always donate to your local food bank who will greatly appreciate your donations. And if you cook more food than necessary, you can create yummy meals from your left-overs. Don’t let anything go to waste!
Tons of artificial Christmas trees are bought each year despite the fact that they take enormous amounts of energy to produce and will end up becoming waste in the future! If you have got an artificial tree already, keep using it for as long as you possibly can. When it comes to replacing it, please go for a more eco-friendly option! Why not grow your own? You can buy a tree with roots to plant and let it grow outside. Alternatively, you could plant it in a big pot! By growing your own, you are reducing your environmental impact and this will also cost you less! Tip: Make sure you check that your tree has been sustainably grown before you purchase by looking out for the FSC-certification logo and make sure it’s been approved by the Soil Association.
Christmas crackers are great fun but have you ever considered how wasteful they are? Generally, they contain little plastic toys that often get thrown away and the cracker itself is often covered in glitter which means that it is 100% not recyclable. This Christmas, why not make your own Christmas crackers and put toys and other items in them that you know will not go to waste. Alternatively, you can purchase eco-friendly Christmas crackers from Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges, made by a company called Nancy and Betty, that are 100% recyclable and printed using vegetable-based inks on FSC paper and they contain plastic-free gifts! You can also purchase eco-friendly Christmas crackers from Not On The High Street.
And finally, try to create and use natural decorations. You can use fir branches and homemade dried orange slices to create wreaths or garlands to hang around your house and this looks very effective and pretty. You can also use cinnamon sticks along with spruce and homemade dried orange slices to make beautiful candle arrangements. Cranberries are really festive and you could string these together to make a garland to wrap around a tree to replace tinsel! Pine cones and walnuts also make a good decoration. Paper decorations are so pretty and you can make 3D snowflakes and other paper crafts, using recycled paper, to hang up in your home. Get creative during this festive season and see what decorations you can create! If you’re running short on time and you decide to purchase decorations, you can find decorations that are in good condition and not expensive if you look in second-hand.
Wishing you a very merry Eco-friendly Christmas and a happy Sustainable New Year J
Lottie Macro 11A