December 08, 2019 2

Keeping it green this Christmas

Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year" without a doubt but it is also the most wasteful time of the year. From gift-giving to decorations, we seem to dismiss the eco-footprint impact we are contributing to. A simple change of wrapping paper may be where you start, but the more you experiment and research, the more ideas you will come across and really start to reassess your choices.

Gift Wrapping

Ditch the glossy or metallic wrapping paper for one of the below:

Fabric gift wrap
Old newspapers
Wrap with another gift like a t-shirt or towel
Paper bags
Old calendar pages

You can repurpose almost anything that you are intending to throw away.

Decorations

Less is always more when it comes to decorations - simple is flattering.

Use nature, maybe something from your garden to create table displays or a centrepiece
Ornaments can be chosen strategically by avoiding plastic and choosing wood or cloth
Replace bulbs in your Christmas lights - we tend to throw away perfectly good lighting because we are too lazy to replace a bulb
Create your own decorations, like snowflakes, with left over material or papers

Minimise Waste

While nobody wants to do the dishes after a big Christmas lunch and using disposable tableware seems like the easy option, if you really start to break it down you are disposing of so much! These are a few mindful steps you can take when setting the table:

Cloth napkins
Decorative tableware that can be washed and reused
Avoid individual beverages like cans or plastic bottles
Opt for glass container, make your own homemade punch or use a soda water stream

Our blogs on DIY Christmas crackers, Christmas gift wrapping & DIY Bath Salts are great starting points that will help simplify table decorations, minimise waste and help reduce costs around this expensive time of year.