We're 9 days out from Christmas Day, which still feels like a way out to be thinking about 'last minute' tips, but I'm guessing most of us already have our trees and decorations up, and are starting to fret about posting dates (and post office queues...) if we still have anything to send/order.
So is it too late now to do anything to 'cut the carbon' this Christmas or can we still make a difference?
Glad you asked. Of course you can!
1. Turn off your Christmas lights when you're not in/overnight
You might already be doing this, in which case, yay you!
If you're not, this will save energy (carbon) and pennies, so it really is a win-win! If you're like me and pretty useless at remembering to turn stuff off, you can get timers that you can fit to plug sockets - these are especially good for outside lights and save you trudging outside in the dark in your PJs.
If you're not, this will save energy (carbon) and pennies, so it really is a win-win! If you're like me and pretty useless at remembering to turn stuff off, you can get timers that you can fit to plug sockets - these are especially good for outside lights and save you trudging outside in the dark in your PJs.
2. Go green with your gift wrapping
In the UK we use 108 million rolls of wrapping paper at Christmas - enough to wrap around the equator 9 times!
Can you challenge yourself to not buy any new wrapping paper this year?
- Make the effort to go up into the loft and use up those rolls that have been up there for the last 3 years..!
- If you've been getting the 'odd'(!) online delivery or two, can you reuse any of the paper packaging from these?
- Use old comics, newspapers, or sheet music
- Raid the charity shops for pillowcases and sheet/duvets and then make your own fabric wrapping - check out 'furoshiki' for clever ways to wrap with fabric
3. Ditch the sellotape
Branded sellotape used to be made from cellophane and was therefore technically biodegradable, but nowadays even the genuine stuff is plastic. Having said that, Sellotape have released 'Sellotape Zero' this year which is supposed to be plastic-free and 'compostable'. I'm not sure if this means it's home compostable though, or how it will fare if it gets chucked into the paper recycling with your gift wrap.
An easier and more reliable solution is to use paper tape. You can get plain brown tape which works well if you're using kraft paper or packing paper as your wrapping of choice. Or there is a wide variety of patterned alternatives.
4. Use last years cards as gift tags
My mother in law has been doing this forever, but it was a revelation to me when I met my husband! No idea why I'd been forking out good money for gift tags, when with a swift wielding of the scissors it's super easy to 'upcycle' some old cards!
And whilst we're here... Save this years cards for next years gift tags...
If you haven't got any of last years cards stashed away to use as gift tags this year, just remember to put this years cards away somewhere safe so you can feel smug next year.
5. Shop local for your last minute bits
I know, I know, Amazon is just so bloody convenient. Especially with the whole next day delivery thing, but if you can, resist the temptation and making Jeff Bezos even richer, and support your local independent shops. Whether that's for your sprouts, or the last minute gifts, it's been such a tough year for retail - make someone do a happy dance!
6. Do a meal plan for Christmas week
Food waste is a huge issue for the climate crisis and is unsurprisingly even more of an issue than normal over the festive season. So make a list, check it twice...! Doing a meal plan is dull and boring and some people claim it sucks all the joy out of eating, but it really will help to cut waste (and save money!). With lockdown restrictions changing on a confusingly regular basis, it's kind of hard to know who will be around over the Christmas period, and what meals will be needed, but just do your best! If you've got time(!), maybe you could prep some meals to stash in the freezer in case your family suddenly decide they want to 'bubble' with you...
Think about what meals you'll be eating, what lovely Christmas traditions of special foods you want to keep, and then make a plan around them. Factor in leftovers, as well as those days when you simply can't be arsed to cook and will want to order a takeaway or simply eat chocolates (I'm reliably informed that the orange and strawberry creams both count as one of your 5 a day over the Christmas period).
7. Love your freezer
If your meal plan was a little over ambitious in terms of just how much people could squeeze in, or you never actually got round to making one, and now you're starting a fridge full of food that all needs eating within 24 hrs, then this is the time to get friendly with your freezer.
Most things can be frozen - if you're not sure, Kate at The Full Freezer has a great "Can I freeze it?" section on her website, and Love Food Hate Waste also has a fab "A-Z of food storage".
Things like cream and cheese can be frozen if you know they're not going to be eaten before they go off.
8. Go plastic-free with your crackers
If you've not already bought them, then you still have an opportunity to go plastic-free with your crackers.
If you're the crafty type, or you're desperate for something to keep the kids entertained in the run up to the Big Day, you can make your own from loo rolls and wrapping paper. You can even get eco-friendly snaps.
OR you can get some reusable crackers (we have some of these) that you use each year.
OR you can buy 'fill your own crackers' like these ones here from Oxfam.
OR you can find plastic-free crackers at many of the big retailers this year which is great news.
Check out this post here for lots more links as well as ideas for what to put in them.
9. Recycle well
When it comes to recycling your Christmas, the most important thing to do is to check with your local authority what they will accept and what they won't - just head over to your local council's website and you should find the info you need. If it's not clear, drop them an e-mail or a message on social media.
- Some local authorities won't accept any wrapping paper, as much of it is of too poor quality to be able to recycle. Brown kraft paper is ok, even if it has paint or decorations on it, as long as there's no glitter!
- Make sure you remove any tape (paper tape is ok) or ribbons/bows etc.
- Wrapping paper with glitter on it, or paper that is metallic/plastic-y can't be recycled and has to go in your landfill bin.
- The same applies to cards - if they have glitter on, they can't be recycled. Some supermarkets have collection points in the New Year which raise funds for the Woodland Trust, but again, no glitter!
- Foil from Christmas chocs has to be collected up into a ball about the size of a tennis ball for it to have a chance of being detected on the recycling line.
- When it comes to your tree, if you have a real one without roots, again check with your local authority - many will collect them on specific days to mulch them.
10. Give yourself a pat on the back
Making sustainable(ish) changes can be difficult, and at Christmas it's even harder, because we've got the wider family to consider, as well as so many societal pressures about what constitutes a good Christmas, and wanting the kids to have a magical time. It can feel frustrating, and progress can be slow, but there will be progress I promise.
Have a think back to last Christmas, and then look at the changes you've made this year. You might not have arrived at the 'perfect eco Christmas' (spoiler alert, I don't think such a thing exists!) but you're making changes, and it's always going to be a slower 'journey' because Christmas only happens once a year (thank goodness!).
Instead of berating yourself, and feeling guilty about the influx of presents that are still flooding in from loving and well meaning relatives that you possibly wouldn't have chosen yourself, look at all the things you have been able to change and give yourself a little pat on the back, and maybe treat yourself to one of the posh biscuits you've been saving.
How are you feeling about Christmas?
Let me know in the comments!
INTRODUCING THE CRAP-FREE CHRISTMAS COURSE!
Join me and a merry band of similarly challenged Crap-free Christmas wannabees as we dive into into the nitty gritty, the practicalities and the emotional minefields of a festive season with less crap and more joy!
