But let’s face it, amidst the festive cheer each year, we’re often left with a fridge full of leftovers, mounds of packaging from presents, and gift wrap galore.
This might explain why a quarter of us think it’s just not possible to have an eco-friendly Christmas… but help is at hand to prove otherwise. Here at Beyond the Box, we’ve teamed up with N4Mummy to come up with several ways to keep your eco-impact to a minimum without making the festive season any less special.
Living in a winter wonderland
Do you enjoy the festive twinkling of fairy lights to add a dusting of Christmas cheer? Don’t we all! But let’s be honest, nobody can see the Christmas lights during the day. So, why not set up a timer switch so that your lights only shine when it’s dark outside (and switch off during the night when no one’s awake to enjoy them). Even better, this will cut down on energy usage and save £££s off your energy bill.
Mistle-tote?
Don’t let the stress of Christmas shopping weigh you down. Take a reusable bag, tote or even cardboard box with you when out and about to cut down on single use carriers. If you’re ordering online and your delivery comes in cardboard packaging, the good news is that it can be recycled – in fact, cardboard has the highest recycling rate of any packaging material.
Go greener
Bring the outdoors inside – by decorating your home with natural foliage. Try wrapping garlands on the banister or adding holly to the mantelpiece. If you’re considering Christmas tree options, the real deal can be much greener than a plastic counterpart (whilst filling your house with the festive scent of pine). Did you know that you’d have to use a fake tree for at least 12 years to make it as green as a real’un?
That’s a wrap
This Christmas, as you tear open your presents, remember the all-important ‘Scrunch Test’ to determine if your wrapping paper is recyclable. Simply scrunch a piece of the paper in the palm of your hand – if the paper remains ‘scrunched’ it is paper-based and widely recycled in the UK. If the wrapping paper unfolds or springs back, it can’t be recycled.
Being eco-friendly is important all year round, but especially so during the festive season. So, scrunch your wrapping paper, bring the outdoors inside and think about sustainable packaging, plus ways to reuse and recycle. And together we can have a sustainable, green Christmas.