If you’re looking to make some changes to Christmas in order to be more sustainable, there are a number of things you can do such as DIY decorations, sustainable wrapping paper, reusable advent calendars, green gifting, and swapping the artificial Christmas tree for a potted one.
Whether you’re having a big family gathering or just a quiet celebration this year, we’ve come up with some ideas that can help you celebrate the Christmas season in a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.
Sustainable Christmas gift wrapping
One-time-use paper isn’t the only option for wrapping presents! You can get recyclable options, such as brown paper, which can be reused, recycled, and decorated with natural elements like dried orange slices, twine, or sprigs of greenery. You could also wrap your gifts in fabric, reusing scarves, tea towels, or any other fabric you have at home.
DIY decorations
Create your own decorations using natural materials like pinecones, dried citrus, or salt dough. You can also reuse last year’s wrapping paper or bits of scrap to create paper chains or stars.
Reusable advent calendar
Make or buy an advent calendar that can be used year-after-year, filling it with small, meaningful gifts or activities. You could even wrap up some children’s books for advent and reuse them every year.
Christmas crackers
Choose eco-friendly crackers made from recyclable materials and filled with reusable or biodegradable gifts, such as wooden puzzles or metal trinkets. You could even make your own and personalise them for the recipient with a gift you know they’ll use.
Green gifting
Give the gift of experiences, such as tickets to a show, a cooking class, or a donation to a charity in the recipient’s name. You can also shop for unique, pre-loved items at charity shops or online marketplaces.
Potted Christmas tree
Invest in a real tree that can be planted in your garden after Christmas, and reused every year for your Christmas decorations.
Sustainable Christmas cards
Send digital Christmas cards to reduce paper waste, or choose cards made from seed paper that can be planted to grow flowers or herbs. You can even reuse Christmas cards from last year by repurposing them into homemade cards for loved ones.
Energy-efficient lighting
LED Christmas lights are much more eco-friendly, as they consume less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. You can also decorate with solar-powered lights to save on electricity and reduce your carbon footprint.
