{"id":3065,"date":"2020-11-12T11:42:12","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T11:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salinareport.com\/?p=3065"},"modified":"2020-12-16T11:45:45","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T11:45:45","slug":"how-to-have-an-eco-friendly-christmas-tips-for-hosting-a-green-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salinareport.com\/?p=3065","title":{"rendered":"How to have an eco-friendly Christmas: tips for hosting a ‘green Christmas’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Whilst Christmas is bound to\u00a0look very different this year, the festive countdown\u00a0is officially on. Cue the\u00a0turkey,\u00a0advent calendars\u00a0and\u00a0Christmas crackers.\u00a0But our much-loved celebrations are costing us more than we realise, with experts linking festive mass consumption\u00a0to long-term environmental damage in previous years.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s estimated that an extra 30 per cent of rubbish is produced and discarded during the festive period, which amounts to around three million tonnes of waste.\u00a0But how do we go about doing better, without saying goodbye to all that festive magic?<\/p>\n

Here are a few ideas because a wasteful Christmas just won’t cut it any longer…<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas trees<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Did you know seven million trees go into landfill each year? A pot-grown tree with all its roots intact means it can be replanted in your garden afterwards to enjoy – try\u00a0Pines and Needles\u00a0or\u00a0Holly Berry Trees. If only a cut tree will do, choose British, locally-grown trees to keep carbon miles down.\u00a0Forestry England sources trees from sustainable forests with short transportation lines, or look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo when shopping in stores.<\/p>\n

Or consider renting one instead. Sites like\u00a0Holly Berry Trees\u00a0deliver and collect rented trees, and if you\u2019re sentimental, you can pick exactly the same Norway Spruce, year in, year out.<\/p>\n

Got an artificial tree? Show it some serious TLC. According to the Carbon Trust, it needs a minimum of 10 Christmases to be less environmentally harmful than a real one.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas cards<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Every year, we throw away 1.5 billion cards, so it\u2019s worth asking – is anybody\u00a0really\u00a0<\/em>going to notice if you don\u2019t send them this year? If scrimping on cards is too miserly, opt for sustainably-sourced designs that have the Forest Stewardship (FCS) mark – it means the paper was sourced responsibly, and avoid glitter (a microplastic) which can\u2019t be recycled.<\/p>\n

1 Tree Cards\u00a0plant a tree for every card sold via the Eden Reforestation Projects charity, using 100% recycled materials and vegan or vegetable-based inks.\u00a0Washed Up Cards\u00a0on Etsy use\u00a0plastic found on UK beaches.<\/p>\n

If you’d prefer personalised cards, opt for sites like\u00a0Greenvelope\u00a0and\u00a0Paperless Post, which let you customise without the carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly wrapping paper<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Recycle that stash of gift bags you\u2019ve been given throughout the year, or use brown recyclable paper and newspapers as wrapping paper alternatives.\u00a0Wrapped By Alice\u00a0sells 100% recyclable luxury wrapping paper and recyclable parcel tape (all made in the UK). Pair it with sustainable tissue paper from\u00a0No Issue\u00a0for the ultimate eco-friendly packaging. Don’t forget you can wrap gifts in reusable fabrics too.\u00a0Wrag Wrap\u00a0has built-in buttons so you can wrap without tape, and\u00a0pass the wrap on to your recipient, too.<\/p>\n

Avoid ribbons and tinsel on presents – they\u2019re not recyclable and cause huge issues for recycling plants, getting stuck in machinery. Instead, try hemp cord or twine and decorate with foliage (a holly sprig or pine cone from the garden is as eco as it gets, right?). If it seems like a faff, consider that an incredible 277,000 miles of wrapping paper gets thrown away every year…<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly decorations<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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According to NASA, parts of the earth are up to 50% brighter in the period between Thanksgiving in the States and New Year\u2019s Day, which as well as wasting huge amounts of energy, also disrupts the ecosystems of nocturnal wildlife. Do your bit by swapping to\u00a0solar-powered lights\u00a0(there\u2019s no faffing with extension cords and plug sockets either) or opt for energy-efficient LED bulbs instead \u2013 you\u2019ll help decrease your carbon footprint and save money since they last up to 20 times longer than regular bulbs.<\/p>\n

Using natural foliage in place of tinsel is an easy, cost-effective swap, but for something glitzier,\u00a0Protect The Planet sells stylish, sustainable (and often recycled) decorations. Or you could DIY – homemade paper-chains, snowflakes and wreaths for the door are a great way to entertain kids during the holidays, and make for cute decorations too.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas crackers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Eco-friendly crackers like these, from Nancy & Betty, are a greener option\u00a0<\/span>CREDIT<\/span>: Nancy & Betty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Save\u00a0yourself from discovering miniature plastic screwdrivers for months to come by doing things differently this year. You\u2019ll find\u00a0Nancy and Betty\u2019s beautiful eco-friendly crackers stocked in Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges – British-made, they\u2019re recyclable and printed using vegetable-based inks on FSC paper, and contain plastic-free gifts. Independent sellers on sites like\u00a0Not On The High Street\u00a0will be grateful for your business \u2013 these\u00a0recycled snowflake crackers\u00a0are handmade in Britain from screen-printed recycled paper.<\/p>\n

Or fill your own crackers with thoughtful gifts using\u00a0Keep This Cracker\u00a0\u2013 they\u2019re sent to your door without any single-use plastic, with decorative ribbons made from used plastic bottles.\u00a0Because they slide open instead of tearing (you\u2019ll still get that famous \u2018bang\u2019 noise though, don\u2019t worry), you can keep using them for years to come.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas food<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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According to\u00a0FoodCycle, in the UK, we waste five million Christmas puddings, two million turkeys and 74 million mince pies every year \u2013 pretty shameful, right? Plan meals ahead of time to avoid food waste and start making room in the freezer for storing leftovers now. If you really can\u2019t get through it all, download the\u00a0Olio\u00a0app so unused food can be put to good use by others in your area.<\/p>\n

Shopping locally is better for the environment, so take your own bags and buy fruit and vegetables loose when possible to minimise plastic.\u00a0Social Supermarket\u00a0sells quality products \u2013 including food and drink \u2013 that tackle social and environmental challenges, like relishes made with wonky fruit and veg. For those not willing to go cold turkey on the turkey, buy organic and free-range from local farmers and ask yourself if you really\u00a0need the whole\u00a0turkey, or whether just a crown will do.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas gifts for adults<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A gift from\u00a0Gar\u00e7on Wines; their flat bottles are made from pre-existing, recycled material\u00a0<\/span>CREDIT<\/span>: Gar\u00e7on Wines<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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It\u2019s worth investigating how receptive loved ones would be to a \u2018Secret Santa\u2019 theme – one great gift instead of five subpar\u00a0stocking fillers\u00a0is better for everyone, including the planet. Or stick to digital subscriptions – gift cards for services like Audible, Netflix or Spotify are always gratefully received. For thoughtful,\u00a0eco-conscious gifts\u00a0try sustainable shopping sites like\u00a0Buy Me Once,\u00a0The Plastic Free Shop,\u00a0and\u00a0Peace With The Wild.<\/p>\n

Social enterprise\u00a0The Soap Co\u00a0has a strong social and environmental ethos and provides work opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people.\u00a0Know a wine-lover? Try a delivery from\u00a0Gar\u00e7on Wines – makers of the world\u2019s first flat wine bottle, it\u2019s designed to fit through the letterbox and is made from 100% recycled PET (non-single use plastic). The lightweight bottle (they\u2019re 87% lighter than regular ones) means lower CO2 emissions, too.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly Christmas gifts for kids\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Kids will love the idea of adopting an orangutan through WWF\u00a0<\/span>CREDIT<\/span>: Anup Shah\/WWF<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Instead of wasting money on toys they\u2019ll be bored of by next week, try gifting experiences instead. Budding Attenboroughs will jump at the idea of adopting a penguin or polar bear via the\u00a0WWF, and a delivery from bubble toy company\u00a0Dr Zigs\u00a0will delight little faces (the company boasts impressive eco-credentials).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Toy subscription service Toy Box Club is trying to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to our disposable toy culture\u00a0<\/span>CREDIT<\/span>: Toy Box Club<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Ditch the snobbery around second-hand kids’ toys, too. Sites like\u00a0Oxfam,\u00a0Gumtree\u00a0or Facebook Marketplace can result in brilliant sustainable bargains (just recycle or donate them again afterwards \u2013\u00a0Freecycle\u00a0is great). Still unsure? Toy subscription service\u00a0Toy Box Club delivers age-appropriate toys and books to your door from just \u00a335 a month, and collects them at an agreed time later \u2013 genius.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Whilst Christmas is bound to\u00a0look very different this year, the festive countdown\u00a0is officially on. Cue the\u00a0turkey,\u00a0advent calendars\u00a0and\u00a0Christmas crackers.\u00a0But our much-loved celebrations are costing us more than we realise, with experts linking festive mass consumption\u00a0to long-term environmental damage in previous years. It\u2019s estimated that an extra 30 per cent of rubbish is produced and discarded during the festive period, which amounts to around three million tonnes of waste.\u00a0But how do we go about doing better, without saying goodbye to all that festive magic? Here are a few ideas because a wasteful Christmas just won’t cut it any longer… Eco-friendly Christmas trees […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3066,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to have an eco-friendly Christmas: tips for hosting a 'green Christmas' - Medford Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/salinareport.com\/?p=3065\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to have an eco-friendly Christmas: tips for hosting a 'green Christmas' - Medford Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whilst Christmas is bound to\u00a0look very different this year, the festive countdown\u00a0is officially on. Cue the\u00a0turkey,\u00a0advent calendars\u00a0and\u00a0Christmas crackers.\u00a0But our much-loved celebrations are costing us more than we realise, with experts linking festive mass consumption\u00a0to long-term environmental damage in previous years. It\u2019s estimated that an extra 30 per cent of rubbish is produced and discarded during the festive period, which amounts to around three million tonnes of waste.\u00a0But how do we go about doing better, without saying goodbye to all that festive magic? 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