Christmas time, mistletoe and tofurkey

Christmas is a time of festivities, fun, games, terrible jumpers and unfortunately, waste. So to make your Christmas more environmentally friendly, why not follow some useful tips?

• as the UK uses approximately 200,000 trees worth of Christmas cards each year, why not send recycled cards, e-cards or make your own;
• avoid plastic, non-biodegradable decorations and use some of the natural decorations available, such as fir cones;
• make your own Christmas decorations using holly, ivy, berries and evergreen, or even string some popcorn up and use it as a garland - not only eco-friendly but tasty too;
• buying a real tree? Buy one that has been grown locally by a sustainable grower, and if it still has the roots attached, replant it so you can use it year after year;
• use energy saving lightbulbs and LEDs for your Christmas lights, or alternatively switch your lights off and get in the festive spirit by lighting scented candles;
• get creative with your wrapping and use old paper bags, posters, glossy magazines and decorate with scraps of fabric from old clothes - embroider an old sock with the person's name and feed the ribbon through the hole in the toe;
• don't get caught up with buying unwanted gifts for friends, why not make them a meal instead, make a donation to charity in their name or even adopt a penguin on their behalf;
• avoid using disposable plates and cutlery, use real crockery, especially if you have an energy saving dishwasher;
• recycle! Check what can be recycled by your local council and also at your nearest recycling bank;
• and finally...buy an organic turkey for the Christmas table, or even dazzle your tastebuds with tofurkey!

We at Cedrec are dreaming of a green Christmas, with every Christmas card we re-use, may your days be merry and energy-saving bright, and may all your Christmases be green!