Have yourself an eco-friendly Christmas!

Christmas is the time to celebrate and unwind, but with the festivities comes over consumption and waste.

As we are currently in a climate emergency, it is more important than ever to celebrate Christmas in a way that doesn't cost the Earth.

Carbon Trust recommends key changes everyone could make to help reduce the overall environmental impact of Christmas:

• share the festivities with family and friends if you can, it is much more energy efficient to cook one meal and heat one home rather than two, three or four;
• avoid buying in excess and buying things that won't be used or need to be thrown away immediately, such as gifts and items used for festive celebrations;
• don't feel like you have to buy new clothes for Christmas - you could repurpose clothes you already own, borrow something from family and friends, or shop second-hand.

Here are more tips on how to have a more sustainable Christmas!

At home

Tips to be more eco-friendly this Christmas in the home include:

• more people in the room plus having the oven switched on cooking for hours will keep the house warmer than usual, which means you could turn the heating down or off if it feels warm enough;
• close the curtains as it gets darker earlier to help to retain more heat.

Gifts

As gifts can cause a significant amount of waste, and deliveries can cause huge emissions, here are things to consider when getting gifts this Christmas:

• buy good quality items that can be passed on to friends, family and charity shops to give a second or third life;
• avoid buying from companies that promote fast fashion and poor ethics;
• consider purchasing pre-loved or refurbished items;
• if buying electrical equipment, consider the energy use across their life span, as even though more efficient equipment can sometimes cost more up front it will save on energy bills in the long run;
• use recyclable wrapping paper, cards and envelopes, and make sure you recycle what you can;
• reuse wrapping paper and gift bags where possible, or make your own wrapping using newspaper, magazines, old books you no long want, or fabric;
• try gift things that have a lower carbon footprint like toys and books, rather than something that consumes electricity.

Tree

We have discussed at length every year the Real v Fake debate, but your choice will depend on the tree, your plans for reuse, and then options of disposal:

• an artificial tree used over multiple years (seven to 20 dependant on the weight and materials used) is better for reducing emissions than buying a new, commercially grown tree every year, but there is still considerations of the plastic and metal elements which could become waste;
• for real trees, those grown slowly and without fertiliser are preferable to intensively grown options, and always go for locally grown trees that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council;
• potted trees with roots are able to be re-used, which spreads the carbon footprint over multiple years, and avoids transport emissions by keeping the tree at the same property year-round;
• if you are buying a live tree each year, reuse your stand or pot for as many years as possible, as buying a new one each year has a significant impact on the footprint of your tree.

For real trees, the disposal of the tree can also have a big impact on its footprint:

• replanting for potted trees with roots is the preferred method as there is no disposal;
• you can also donate your tree to a charity who will come collect your tree for you;
• having your tree chipped to spread on the garden will significantly reduce the carbon footprint by 80%;
• burning the tree, such as on a bonfire or fire pit, emits carbon dioxide that it stored when it was growing, so there is no net increase to emissions in the atmosphere;
• if a tree is sent to landfill, it will produce methane gas as it decomposes, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, creating a larger footprint.

Decorations

When considering what to put on your tree, and how to decorate inside and outside home consider the following:

• make sure to switch off your lights at night, especially the outside Christmas lights, or you could put your indoor and outside Christmas lights on a timer so they are not wasting electricity when you forget to turn them off;
• when decoration lights need replacing, use LED versions, as they are more efficient and can be used for years to come;
• you could also consider solar powered smaller lights to go in your garden instead of full battery or mains powered;
• make your own decorations by either upcycling old decorations or using spare material in the house, such as turning old paper into paperchains.

Travel

People often travel significant distances to visit family and friends at Christmas, so where possible consider how you could make these journeys more environmentally friendly:

• avoid air traffic if you can, as this is one of the largest carbon impacts an individual can have;
• with everyone driving home for Christmas, see whether you can car share, or take public transport.

Christmas dinner

The Christmas dinner is what most people look forward to, but reducing the meal's emissions and waste does not have to reduce the enjoyment:

• consider what you cook for the main course, as Turkey has a lower carbon footprint than beef, and vegetarian options are even lower;
• be mindful of the amount of cheese you buy, as cheese has very high carbon footprint, so try reduce the size of your cheeseboard;
• do not preheat the oven for too long and do not leave it on after the meal is prepared to keep food heated;
• let people serve themselves the amount they want rather than dishing it out as this reduces food waste, and any food left over can be served the next day;
• make sure if there is leftovers to use it in the days after Christmas or share it around if there is too much for just your family;
• the majority of gifts inside Christmas crackers never last beyond the end of the meal, so consider crackers with just jokes and hats, and make sure to recycle the paper and cardboard afterwards or fill your own crackers with things you know people will use.

Have yourself an eco-friendly Christmas!

It is important to enjoy the festive period, but these little tips are ways to be mindful of our environmental impact, which is higher than usual during this period.

Use this time to try forming lasting habits and encourage broader change for yourself and loved ones. With a lot of people together, the actions you take have a good chance of being noticed and influencing others, at a time when change is really needed!