Out of all the celebrations throughout the year, Christmas is simultaneously the kindest and most cruel. With all the joy of giving and the cheer that this season brings, it’s easy to forget how cruel our over-consumption can be to the planet!
So, to help remind us to be a little kinder to Mother Nature this festive period, we’ve put together a list of eco-friendly Christmas tips that just about anyone can put into practice. Here’s what you can do to make your Christmas easier on the earth:
1. Make Your Own Decorations
Image: matalan.co.uk
Is your Christmas décor starting to look worse for wear? Instead of buying new décor and getting the same old baubles and tinsel that everyone has, why not make your own unique décor? There are loads of quick and simple décor items that you can make, such as pinecone wreaths, Christmas tree napkins and candy cane place card holders. So forget about using excuses like ‘I don’t have the time’ or ‘I’m not crafty’ and rather take a look at all the awesome DIY tutorials on Pinterest.
2. Don’t Buy Wrapping Paper
Image: marthastewart.com
Because Christmas wrapping paper consists of a mixture of synthetic inks, plastic film, cholrine, as well as metal-based foils and glitters, it’s not that easy to recycle and, consequently, it creates unecessary waste. Thankfully, there are many earth-friendly ways to wrap gifts. One popular example is fabric-wrapping. As the name implies, scrap fabric is wraped in a number of creative ways to dress up gifts and reduce landfill wastage.
3. Support Eco-Friendly Brands
Image: piggypaint.co.za
Know of any eco-friendly businesses in your area? If so, then perhaps Christmas could be a good excuse to support them (and thus encourage the production of ‘greener’ products and services).
Companies like Piggy Paint, Rock the Locks, Pure Papaya and Boody (of course!) offer a large variety of eco-products and so they’d make great starting points for your Christmas shopping.
4. Cut Down On Meaty Meals
Image: realfood.tesco.com
It’s a well known fact that the production of meat (like beef and pork) significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. And the demand for this type of meat during Christmas is scarily high. But it doesn’t have to be! You can play your part in being kinder to the planet this festive season by adding more vegetarian dishes to your Christmas table and reducing your meat consumption. Dishes like stuffed butternut and nut roasts are sure to be a hit (even with your most carnivorous of friends)!
Do you have any eco-friendly Christmas tips of your own to share? We’d love to hear them. So please leave a comment in the box below and tell us how you’ll be kinder to the planet this holiday.
