7 Tips for A Sustainable Christmas in 2024
Want to make your Christmas celebrations more sustainable? Keep reading for my best eco-friendly tips for reducing waste and having a conscious Christmas in 2024.
Hoping to make your Christmas more eco-friendly this year?
I know I am.
It can be hard to get family and friends on board with reducing waste, especially if they aren’t interested in making sustainable lifestyle changes.
Luckily there are plenty of ways to reduce your plastic and make ethical choices while still having a magical Christmas.
Today I’m sharing 7 eco-friendly tips to get you started.
Why is Christmas not usually sustainable?
Christmas isn’t usually sustainable.
Our capitalist society makes us feel like we need to buy things to fix our problems, show love, or have a good time.
A lot of this is down to fake sales and advertising. Adverts are great at making us feel like a product is good, even when it’s harmful to the planet.
In 2022, Brits were estimated to spend £20.1 billion on Christmas gifts, and up to $960.4 billion in the USA.
Now imagine how much wrapping paper and plastic sticky tape is used to cover all those gifts. And let’s not forget the Christmas crackers, the plastic decorations, and the uneaten food.
We waste so many natural resources and fossil fuel-derived products each December that it’s hard to even picture how destructive our consumption is.
With the cost of living rapidly increasing in a post-pandemic world, you aren’t alone if you’re feeling stressed about the cost of Christmas.
Thankfully, celebrations can still be wonderful without buying lots of plastic. It is possible to keep things simple and sustainable without spoiling the magic.
10 statistics about overconsumption at Christmas
To put things in perspective, here are some shocking statistics about how much people consume at Christmas:
In the UK, a typical Christmas will see Brits throw away 2 million turkeys.
Huge amounts of food packaging will also be discarded. This includes 300 million plastic cups and around 125,000 tonnes of plastic wrapping used for food.
Consumers will use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper which equates to 108 million rolls.
Combined, we travel 6 billion miles around the UK to see friends and family.
UK homes throw away a total of 3.5 black bin bags full of Christmas packaging.
Approximately £42 million of unwanted Christmas presents are thrown out each year.
Biffa suggests that 100 million bags of rubbish are sent to landfills each Christmas.
The UK will also throw away approximately 500 tonnes of Christmas lights each year.
5 million Christmas puddings get chucked away every year (many with plastic packaging).
One billion cards don’t get recycled because of glitter and foil.
Can you see why we need to make changes? It can feel a little overwhelming so it helps to remember the best thing you can do is buy less.
There is no right way to be eco-friendly. Everyone has different circumstances and it’s important to remember that reusing what you have is better than buying eco products.
How can I make Christmas more eco-friendly?
The best way to make your Christmas more eco-friendly is to reduce your overall consumption in all areas. It’s also vital to consider what your products are made from and who made them. This list of sustainable tips will help you reduce your waste and save money at the same time.
7 Eco-friendly tips for a sustainable Christmas
1. Buy local seasonal food (and don’t waste it)
Lots of fruit and vegetables are imported across the world because we’ve lost sight of what is in season. You can reduce your carbon footprint by:
Sourcing your food from local farms, butchers, and greengrocers.
Growing your own roast potatoes and vegetables
Reducing your consumption of beef and dairy products
Choosing organic food, including meat, dairy and veggies
Using the food waste app Olio to give away anything you don’t want
I’m not here to tell you what not to eat, but animal agriculture has a hefty carbon footprint and requires a vast amount of water. If you’re not in a position to go vegetarian, choosing local meat and visiting the butcher to support your community is a better choice than untraceable meat that could be from the Amazon rainforest.
It goes without saying that if you have a low income and don’t have a choice then this isn’t aimed at you.
2. Eco-friendly Christmas crackers
This eco-friendly tip will be an unpopular opinion, but I will say it anyway.
A few seconds of fun pulling a Christmas cracker isn’t worth the catastrophic amount of deforestation and plastic tat.
In the UK, it is being reported that 154 million Christmas crackers are pulled each year before ending up in the bin.
Lots of brands now stock plastic-free crackers, but this just means more trees will be cut down to produce more single-use paper cracker accessories. No mainstream brands are transparent about where they source their paper and the gifts inside are still usually rubbish.
The most sustainable option would be to stop pulling crackers, but I know it's a big tradition for many families.
If Christmas crackers are something you or your family intend to buy, check out my list of Ethical Alternatives To Amazon. This way you can support a small business selling plastic-free products, like &Keep.
3. conscious travel
If you are travelling to see your family or friends this Christmas, I have ten eco-friendly tips to help you be more conscious of your carbon footprint:
Share car journeys:
If possible, carpool with friends or family when travelling to the same destination. This can significantly reduce the number of vehicles on the road and, therefore, carbon emissions.Use Public Transportation:
Trains, buses, and subways /tubes are more energy-efficient and have a lower carbon footprint per passenger mile than individual cars. Consider using public transportation for longer journeys if you’re able.
Plan Efficient Routes:
Plan your travel route in advance to minimise distance and time on the road. Avoid congested routes that can lead to idling in traffic, which increases emissions.
Pack Light:
Excess weight in your vehicle decreases fuel efficiency. Pack only what you need for your trip.
Use Cruise Control:
When driving on highways, use cruise control to maintain a steady speed. This can improve fuel efficiency.
Reduce Idling:
Turn off your engine if you're parked or waiting for an extended period to avoid unnecessary emissions.
Offset Your Emissions:
Consider purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for the emissions produced during your travel.
Travel During Off-Peak Hours:
Avoid peak travel times to minimise time spent idling in traffic.
Consider Alternate Modes of Transport:
For short distances, consider biking or walking. Explore electric scooters or public bike-sharing programs if available.
Fly Smart:
If you're flying, choose non-stop flights when possible, as takeoffs and landings are the most fuel-intensive parts of a flight. Fly economy class, as it has a lower carbon footprint per passenger. Also, consider offsetting your flight emissions.
4. Wrapping paper
One of the best tips for an eco-friendly Christmas is to be mindful of how you wrap your gifts.
There is absolutely no need for companies to be cutting down trees to make wrapping paper when there is an option for recycled materials.
Although you see a lot of brown paper on social media, recycled wrapping paper can come with stunning Christmassy designs, too.
Reusable gift wrap is also another idea that has gained popularity in recent years.
Eco-friendly gift wrap is sometimes more expensive, so if you’re worried about money (which lots of people are in this cost of living crisis) consider making your own.
If you’re not a crafty type, simply wrap your gifts in any fabric you already have at home.
5. Christmas trees
For my next tip, let’s discuss which Christmas trees are the most eco-friendly.
In 2017, over 10 million artificial Christmas trees were sold in the UK and 21.1 million in the US.
The majority of fake trees are made from non-recyclable PVC - the most toxic kind of plastic. It is often contaminated with lead and other dangerous substances that are toxic to children, pets, and Chinese workers during manufacturing.
The carbon footprint of a tree made using petroleum-based plastic in China is significantly higher than that of a real Christmas tree - even one that is burned at the end of its life.
Research shows that real Christmas trees are better for the environment, but they still have a carbon footprint.
You can significantly reduce this by buying a sustainable tree and ensuring your tree is composted at the end of its life. Often local authorities will collect real Christmas trees so they can be chipped..
The most sustainable kind of Christmas tree is one that is reused every year. If you have the space and a garden, you can keep a Christmas tree in a pot that gets brought inside each December. If you already have an artificial tree then reusing it each year is the most sustainable choice.
ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES TO FAKE CHRISTMAS TREES
A real Christmas tree in a pot is as beautiful as it is eco-friendly. It can take 10-12 years to grow a tree to 6 feet tall, so it is a shame to see them thrown away after Christmas.
Christmas Tree Direct deliver potted trees straight to your door, but they sell out fast so make sure you preorder the type and size you want so you don’t miss out.
Did you know you can rent Christmas trees? You can hire a potted Spruce or Pine in November - December and then after Christmas you give it back. Genius, isn’t it?
Here are some Christmas tree rentals I’ve found in the UK:
In the USA you can rent trees at The Living Christmas Company or Rent Xmas Tree.
6. Buy sustainable gifts
Overconsumption is literally destroying the planet so the best way to be sustainable at Christmas is to buy less stuff.
In 2022, Brits were projected to spend £430 per person on Christmas gifts, a 22% decrease due to the cost of living crisis. This works out at over £20 billion on gifts alone.
In the USA, it’s higher at $827.
SECONDHAND GIFTS
You can significantly reduce how much you spend on gifts by shopping second-hand.
There are so many great quality items that already exist. You don’t even have to tell people it’s a preloved item if you don’t want to.
Choosing second-hand gifts means you don’t use up precious natural resources. You also don’t financially support brands using child labour and slavery (which is a problem in all industries).
EXPERIENCE GIFTS
Experience gifts are also a good way to give a meaningful gift without producing unnecessary waste. Gift vouchers for local businesses or memberships to nature reserves make special gifts. If you’d like something particularly unique, here are a few interesting experience gifts:
For more sustainable gift ideas, check out my blog post 77 ethical gift ideas or gift ideas for men.
7. Christmas lights and decorations
Walking down a street covered in colourful lights is one of the first signs Christmas is coming.
Making conscious decisions about the lights you use will impact both the environment and how much energy you pay for.
The best tip I have in regards to energy is to check your energy provider’s fuel mix. Many greenwash by having one “green tariff” but still use coal and fossil fuels to supply their energy.
Switching to an ethical energy provider is a really big move when it comes to fighting climate change.
It’s also important to turn off lights and decorations that use electricity when not in use, and if you can use a timer - even better.
Indoor lighting
If you need indoor Christmas lights then I’d recommend choosing LEDs.
They use 80% less electricity than incandescent and last 25x longer which is great for your budget as well as the planet.
If you’re lucky, you might be able to get hold of some second-hand. If not, you should be able to find them in most shops. The important thing is to keep reusing them every year.
In the USA, Forever Tree sells eco-friendly Christmas tree lights.
Outdoor lighting
Solar lights are the best option for beautiful lighting outdoors. They are easy and convenient because there is no hassle with wiring.
ECO-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Most Christmas decorations are mass-produced and made from plastic so the best thing you can do is reuse the decorations you already have year after year.
If you want more decorations for your home, there are a few options to reduce your environmental impact - the obvious one is to buy second-hand.
A fun idea (that you can get kids involved in too) is foraging and making your own natural home decor. There is an abundance of ideas for DIY Christmas crafts on Pinterest, like wreaths, garlands and wall hangings.
If you’re not crafty, choosing Fairtrade is a way of making your Christmas decor more ethical.
How can you celebrate Christmas in an eco-friendly way?
Celebrating Christmas in an eco-friendly way is not only good for the environment but it’s also a great way to promote sustainability and reduce your carbon footprint.
In this blog post, I’ve shared the following eco-friendly tips for celebrating Christmas in an eco-friendly way:
Eat local and seasonal food
Choose zero-waste Christmas crackers
Reduce carbon emissions when you travel
Opt for reusable and recycled wrapping paper
Have an eco-friendly Christmas tree
Sustainable gift giving - consider preloved presents
Use eco-friendly Christmas lights and decorations
I’m going to share one bonus tip for helping the environment and it’s buying less. When you consume less, fewer resources are taken from the Earth and thrown into landfills.
Food waste is also reduced by buying less of it. This is really important because a third of food produced globally gets wasted while millions go hungry.
Now that you’ve read my 7 eco-friendly Christmas tips, hopefully, you’ve got plenty of new ideas for making your Christmas more sustainable this year.
Let me know how it’s going in the comments below.
Sophie xx
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