Christmas is all about presents, twinkling tree lights, and a never-ending buffet of snacks! But amidst all that festive cheer, it’s important to remember that it can also lead to a significant rise in waste during the holiday season.
Here are some sustainable Christmas ideas to make your festive season greener
Rent, recycle, or reuse your Christmas tree.
6-8 million real Christmas trees head to landfills in the UK every year. Renting a real tree is becoming an increasingly popular choice to avoid festive waste. This is where you care for a tree over the festive period and return it to be replanted for use again the next year.
Purchasing a potted tree is a good solution as you can reuse it each year.
If you do opt for an artificial tree – buy a quality one that will last for at least 10 years.
Real trees are popular, and if you can’t buy a potted one, check out local recycling options for your tree, which will turn it into wood chips or compost. Check your local council website for local collection services.
Make your own sustainable Christmas decorations.
Save yourself some money by upcycling old decorations. Or make your own paper chains or snowflakes from old paper, or try making origami stars from music sheets. If you buy any new decorations, buy quality ones that will last and are ideally made from sustainable materials rather than plastic with glitter.
Make your own reusable Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers are a popular festive tradition, but research shows an estimated 40 million end up in the bin each year. Some designs contain non-recyclable materials, such as foil, glitter and plastic, which all end up in landfill.
Consider investing in some reusable crackers; you can use them year after year and it gives you a chance to pick more sustainable gifts rather than a usually binned plastic toy.
We stock a lovely selection of origami cracker kits – origami has many strong links to mindfulness, so why not take a bit of time to unwind & fold - making something beautiful in the process. We also have a great selection of sustainable small gifts that will fit neatly in a reusable cracker from mini soaps to reusable party hats!
Cut your food waste
Plan ahead and buy only what you realistically need. If you’re visiting friends or family, take some containers with you so you can help share the leftovers and take them home.
We stock some great stainless steel containers/lunch boxes.
Think about your lights
Switch off all your lights at night, they’ll last longer and look just as good - it’s also safer and won’t cost the earth. Try to choose lights that have a plug over battery-powered.
Be mindful of your purchases for presents
Buy less and buy ethically. Buy quality, not quantity.
Support local small independent businesses. Did you know we are members of Independent Oxford? If you're trying to shop locally this Christmas, their website is a great resource for discovering wonderful independent businesses.
Put time into picking a quality item that will last and be loved, or gift an experience or a promise (dinner date, cinema trip, etc.)
Look at the materials gifts are made from and keep sustainability in mind.
Avoid unwanted gifts - send an e-card from a sustainable shop like ours and let them choose something they will want and use.
Consider regifting and second-hand gifts
Let’s normalise second-hand gifts – thrifting in your local charity shop can be fun, and you’ll be amazed at the hidden treasures you can find. Or, regift an unwanted gift.
Get creative, find a container such as a crystal decanter and fill it with some lovely body wash from your local refill shop (like us!). Fill a jam jar or a used cake tin with homemade treats or cookies.
Rethink wrapping
Embrace a zero-waste and time-efficient gift packaging option with reusable gift bags. We stock a lovely selection of stylish artisan-made fabric gift bags. Available in small, medium and large. They are a gift in themselves as they can be washed and reused, passed on to loved ones or kept forever.
Or wrap a gift with a silk scarf purchased from a charity shop or fabrics you already have that you no longer want – such as scarves, pillowcases or blankets for larger items.
Consider sustainable gift wrapping choices. Plain brown paper is a perfect option if you still want the wrapping up effect with a rustic feel. For a festive look, you could tuck in some foraged sprigs of evergreen or pinecones to the knot of the fabric too. Use paper tape or jute string instead of plastic cellotape.
We hope you find some of these sustainable Christmas ideas helpful!
We're always happy to answer your questions if you ever need sustainable tips or advice. And please don't feel the pressure to do everything at once.
Christmas can be stressful, and as our favourite quote goes, "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly".
Have a wonderful Christmas from everyone at The Village Refill.