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7 ways to have a green Christmas this year
While you’re hoping for a white one.
THE COUNTDOWN TO Christmas has well and truly begun (26 days!) and no doubt you’re already getting into the spirit of the season.
Christmas brings with its own set of considerations though – one of which is how to have a Christmas that’s as good for the environment as it is for you and yours. We’ve rounded up seven tips to help you have a greener Christmas – let us know yours in the comments below.
1. Cut down on what you buy
Everyone loves a tree with a pile of presents under it, but one way to be greener at Christmas is to cut down on the amount of presents you give. This doesn’t mean not giving presents at all, it just means being more considerate in what you’re buying, and where you’re buying it from.
2. Buy local
Buying local supports small businesses in your area and also means that your gifts don’t have a big carbon footprint from being shipped from China or the US or wherever they originate.
At this time of the year there will be loads of Christmas markets around for you to grab some beautiful hand-crafted local gifts.
3. Give more
The best part about giving is it doesn’t have to be stuff. It can be experiences such as a massage or tickets to an event or a charity donation in the recipient’s name. You could have a star named after them, or give them lessons in a hobby they’re passionate about such as cooking, art or music.
4. Choose recycled gifts
Believe it or not, those pencils are made from recycled CD cases. Buying gifts made from materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill like tyres, vinyl or clothes is another great way to give something great, and help the earth at the same time.
5. Use up leftovers
On average, 250kg of food waste is created by every household annually, and Christmas waste can form a large part of that.
The best way to prevent food waste is not to cook or buy too much food, but of course it can be hard to manage around Christmas time when you could have guests dropping in at any moment. The next best thing is to have a plan to use up leftovers. You can make soups from leftover Christmas vegetables, and sandwiches and curries from turkey.
6. Recycle your tree
Did you know that you can recycle your Christmas tree and stop it going into a landfill? Well, you can. Many councils have centres where Christmas trees can be brought to for recycling, and all the information will be on their websites.
7. Choose companies that recycle
Businesses produce a lot of waste so choosing a business that has made a commitment to recycling its packaging and other waste can make a big difference not just at Christmas but during the whole year. So you can shop to your heart’s content, knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment.
Repak members don’t only recycle their packaging – they also help to pay for your household recycling and local bottle banks. There’s another reason to spend Christmas with a Repak member. Head over to Repak to find out more.
