How to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas

Christmas is considered the happiest time of year for those that celebrate it. It's a chance to reunite with loved ones that we haven't seen for a while; we indulge in our favourite treats and foods, cosy up by the fire, and do whatever brings us joy. It's a time for happiness, celebration and surrounding ourselves with the ones we love most.

The bottom line is that humans are using up earth's resources faster than they can replenish, and the only way to reverse the damage we've made is to make a change. 

Christmas is, unfortunately, the holiday with the highest environmental footprint as it's a season filled with excess. As a result, we see considerable increases in both waste and emissions. For example, one in three UK consumers admits to binning turkey and sprouts for their Christmas dinner before it even reaches the table. 

But do not fear, having an eco-friendly Christmas isn't a far-fetched concept. We can all make an effort to some extent, whether it's adding a few meat-free dishes to the table or reducing how much plastic you use.

We throw away 227,000 miles of wrapping paper, and most traditional wrapping paper you find in the shops is unrecyclable as it contains plastic. Luckily, recyclable alternatives are now widely available and can be found in many festive patterns!  

Many cultures have sustainable ways of wrapping presents, such as the Japanese Furoshiki art of wrapping with cloth. 

It's high time we erased the stigma of giving second-hand gifts! You can find unbelievably beautiful items in second-hand stores, and not all are old or used. If you have somebody in your life that has an eye for interesting things, or books, or art, then second-hand stores are an absolute goldmine. 

Some brands sell cards embedded with seeds that you can plant straight in the ground and watch them grow. These types of cards are perfect for green-thumbed friends!

High-quality, durable gifts can be considered more environmentally friendly as they're less likely to break or malfunction! Gifting items that have the potential to last a lifetime are some of the most sustainable gifts you can choose, such as books, board games or jewellery.  

A two-metre Christmas tree made from plastic has a carbon footprint measuring around 40kg of CO2, more than ten times greater than a properly-disposed-of real tree.

Instead of buying plastic-filled decorations, head outside and forage some seasonal materials like cones and evergreen branches to decorate your house. 

If you would rather buy decorations instead of crafting your own, make sure to choose good quality ones that will last a lifetime. 

LED lights are a worthwhile investment as they use up less energy than regular lights, and they last longer!

Nothing beats homemade food at Christmas, and using fresh food is much kinder to the planet (and not to mention our health). Making meals from scratch allows you to source local, organic ingredients wherever possible. You can also choose ingredients with the least packaging in a bid to avoid waste. 

Plant-based food is much lighter on the planet than animal products, and you don't have to be fully vegan to make a difference! Try replacing some meat-heavy dishes with plant-based alternatives at the Christmas table this year.  

No matter how much rigorous planning you do, there's always going to be leftovers. But that's great because leftovers are delicious! Many people have an extra roast dinner on Boxing Day with what they have left, but you can also get creative and create something new like bubble and squeak, tacos or a loaded sandwich. 

Disposable items like oven trays and cling film make Christmas dinner cooking and cleaning that little bit easier, but it's not worth it! So this year, ditch the single-use products and embrace reusable ones to prevent excessive waste.