How to have an eco-friendly Christmas and festive period

(First picture from Barnhill Chimney)

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but also one of the most wasteful times of the year. Below I have listed my top tips for an eco-friendly festive period.

Brown paper

Once you have used up all your wrapping paper, instead of buying the foiled or glittery paper why not opt for brown paper or plain wrapping paper? This way, the paper can be recycled or composted instead of going to landfill. I would also advise giving the ribbon and bows a miss, they will end up in landfill. I love using twine, or string, and then I rescue it back to be re-used another time!

(Above is an eco friendly gift wrapping set from Matalan)

Gift tags

Last years Christmas cards make GREAT gift tags. Get the family involved in cutting out all the festive scenes and characters from last years cards, use a hole punch to stamp a hole in the top, pop a bit of twine or string in and you've got yourself a gift tag! Not only does this reduce waste it also saves you money and makes a great family activity.

Gift bags

Lots of companies are starting to provide paper gift bags instead of the plastic-foil type ones. These are great as they can be recycled or upcycled if you are feeling artsy and crafty! Plain brown paper bags can be coloured in, decorated or covered in festive stamps.

Alternatively, reuse your gift bags! There are Christmas (and birthday) gift bags that have been passed between my family members for years now. I'll use a bag for my Brothers gifts and he'll use it for mine the following year. It's a great way to reduce waste, make the most of a product and save money!

(Above is a set of 3 recyclable gift bags from Studio)

Food

It is very easy to over-indulge at Christmas, spending a lot of money on food and a lot of time eating it (that's the best part about Christmas isn't it?). The trick here is to be mindful. How many friends and family members will you have round during the festive period? How long will certain products keep for after Christmas? Are the items safe for home freezing? If it's new to you and you might not like it, is there someone in your family who will?

Not only is the food waste a concern but also the amount of single use plastic that comes with all this food! Therefore it is really important to not get carried away while shopping and purchase more than you or your family will be able to eat. Go for items with a long best before date, items that you can freeze and items that will be to someones liking!

If there are items that you are not going to eat or leftovers that are destined for the bin, I urge you to try apps like Too Good Too Go where people can come and collect items they need, thus avoiding landfill. You could also donate the food to homeless shelters.

Present alternatives

Buying presents for people can be rather tricky and we often find ourselves opting for the classic bath, make up, deodorant or chocolate set. While there is nothing wrong with these items, there are some eco-friendly versions to opt for instead! My little eco shop has a great variety of festive bath, cleaning and chocolate products that would make great, eco-friendly alternatives! You can also purchase an eco friendly Christmas gift wrapping and box set, making it easy and simple to create your own eco-friendly bath set.

(Above: gingerbread star bath bomb, vegan mylk hot chocolate stirrer and Christmas pudding bath bomb all from My little eco shop)

Christmas tree, o' Christmas tree...

The debate between real or artificial trees has been a hot topic for many years. With continued use (talking a good 10-20 years) an artificial tree would be a good eco-friendly option. You could also purchase an artificial tree second hand, or if you want to get rid of your current artificial tree, donate it to a school, church, hospital or nursing home where it will still be used. Real Christmas trees are a more eco-friendly option, however, million of trees will be dumped into landfill come the new year. If you want to opt for a real tree, after Christmas you can either donate it to a zoo or animal sanctuary (they make great enrichment) or cut it up and use it as firewood/wood chippings etc.

Christmas cards

Most Christmas cards cannot be fully recycled due to the foil or glitter on the front. The card can always be cut in half, the front upcycled into gift tags and the other half recycled. However, if the recipient of the card is unlikely to upcycle it, you may want to opt for an eco-friendly version. A lot of small buisnesses make 100% recyclable cards or cards that can be planted and grow flowers or vegetables! They do this by making paper with seeds embedded in it, the card can then be planted, watered and nurtured to produce a beautiful plant.

Another option is to select cards that feature beautiful artwork or quotes that could easily be framed and used as home decor either through-out the year or as a festive decoration each year.

(Above are two sets of Christmas cards from a small business that are eco friendly, recyclable and have the option to be framed and used as home decor. They are from On Heath and Moor)

Christmas lights

With the central heating being on for longer and higher over the winter, the last thing the environment and your wallet needs is the added pressure of the Christmas lights. A smart meter will really help you track your usage, and timers for the lights is a great way to ensure they are only on for certain times through-out the day.

Crackers

Christmas crackers are now popular for their naff little plastic toy, often viewed as nostalgic and a Christmas must have. This year, why not make your own with upcycled materials? Pop inside whatever items you desire and hand write your own terrible jokes. There are also reusable and recyclable options available.

(Above are recyclable, plastic free paper crackers from paperchase and reusable fabric crackers from Dianes Collection Shop)

Advent calendars

A reusable advent calendar will not only cut your costs each year but also cut the amount of single use plastic! These are also great for kids with allergies as they can be filled with sweeties and toys that suit. There are plenty of fun reusable calendars on the market and they can be kept in the family for many years.

There are plenty to be found on Amazon, although I prefer to support small businesses where I can so I would really recommend checking out Etsy and Not on the High Street! You'll find unique items and make someone do a little happy dance with your purchase!

Hope you all have a safe, eco-friendly and very merry Christmas. As always, if you try out any of these tips tag us over on instagram @Bilbo,h