How to achieve an Eco Christmas

Christmas is coming! It is only a few short days away. Christmas can be a very fun, exciting and stressful time. There are so many different traditions and ways to celebrate the festive season. One way we are loving is to have an eco-friendly Christmas. Being eco-friendly in your everyday life is becoming so much easier, with many companies starting to understand the need for being eco friendly and starting to make their products more eco-friendly including biodegradable packaging, sustainable options and made from renewable resources.
 
We are excited for an eco-friendly Christmas this year and below are some of the ways that we will be implementing the change and the positives from doing so.
 
Local & Fair Trade
Gifts are a large part of Christmas these days. When purchasing your gifts for friends and family this year, think about purchasing from small local businesses and businesses that have free trade products. Purchasing from local businesses helps to increase the local economy and keep the small businesses running. It also prevents having to have items shipped across the country (or world) which then reduces the carbon foot print of your purchases.
Fair trade items are items that are either made ethically, sustainable or eco-friendly. Buying these products not only can be good for the environment but can also help those who are living in poverty stricken areas and provide them with jobs and security.
 
Unwrap
Ripping the wrapping paper off your presents is one of the most exciting parts of receiving a present. Not knowing what is under the paper and the suspense is unreal. However the amount of waste that is produced from Christmas wrapping paper each year is astounding. Many families will have numerous large bags of wrapping paper rubbish at the end of the day and a lot of the time sadly it does not get recycled properly and ends up in landfill. This year instead of wrapping presents individually with wrapping paper, look into different options. A few ideas are to either place inside boxes that can be used again afterwards, have the kids decorate newspapers that have been delivered and then wrap in these – making sure they are put in the recycle or compost afterwards, use reusable bags or even use fabric cut off’s which can then be repurposed and sewn together to make a memory blanket.
 
Reduce food waste
Ahh the food! There is always so much of it at Christmas. It is like we completely forget how to meal plan and portion sizes go out the window. This causes a lot of food waste and as many people do not compost it all ends up in landfill. During this Christmas try to reduce your food waste by paying attention to how much you are cooking and whether you really need that much made. When your meals have been finished, go though what is still in each of the serving dishes and any foods that can be frozen and reheated should be placed in containers and put in the fridge or freezer. Not only does this reduce waste but it also reduces your need to cook over the coming days after Christmas.
 
Lighting
Christmas lights are a magical thing. They bring smiles and happiness to so many people. However the energy needed for many Christmas lights can be very consuming. If you are decking your house out in Christmas lights look into the solar lights and change over to these where ever possible. If you are using mainstream lights try to have them turned off as much as possible and only consuming energy when needed.
 
Handmade
Decorations, cards and presents can all be hand made. Not only can this be more cost effective, less plastic and reduce the carbon footprint but it also brings a very personal touch to the item. Everyone loves receiving a card or gift knowing that someone has put time and effort into making it for them. It is a very personal and wonderful experience. This is also a great activity to do with the kids and can keep them occupied for hours on end.
 
So when you are making all your plans for this Christmas, think of ways you can make it a more eco-friendly Christmas.
Do you have any tips to add?