5 Ways To Be More Sustainable This Christmas

with guest contributor I Did Something Green

 

It can be tempting to go a little overboard during the Christmas season - why not treat yourself and those around you after the year you've had? We all deserve to live life well this Christmas! However, there are ways of doing that a little more mindfully, with a less waste, to protect our island.

We asked local blogger Sara Martin from I Did Something Green to give us a quick list of tips to help us all be more sustainable at Christmas time, whilst still enjoying the season and embracing the year end.

Here's what she had to say...

 

 

1. Sustainable Gift Wrap

The beauty of fabric wrap is that it’s elegant, fun, eco friendly and, of course, reusable. There’s no right or wrong here! I would say a square piece is probably easiest to deal with, but you can always fold or cut your fabric to the size and shape you need it. It would also depend on the shape of the gift that you will be wrapping.

Here are some ideas for fabrics:

• Tea Towels: The ones you have in your kitchen drawer that don’t absorb water, but are really pretty… you know the ones.
• Old Scarves: Lovely soft fabric, easy to wrap different shapes and gives them a wonderful new purpose.
• Muslin Cloths: Bonus points if you’ve got a present for a new mum/mum-to-be, as it can later be reused for the baby.
• Cotton Fabric: Are you someone who enjoys sewing? Why not see if you’ve got some spare cotton/fabrics somewhere.
• Old Clothing: A piece of clothing that’s beyond repair or going to a new home, if it’s the right size for the gift then why not reuse it for wrapping?!

And if you're not convinced fabric wrap is for you, there are small ways to avoid plastic this year:

• Try paper tape instead of sellotape,
• Use twine, string and old ribbons to tie around gifts.
• Make your own labels.
• Use brown paper instead of glittery non-recyclable paper. You can even get creative and draw or stamp patterns onto brown paper.

 

2. Gift Experiences, Not Things

If you’re unsure what to buy someone for Christmas, it can be wasteful to buy presents just for the sake of giving someone something.

Why not gift a voucher for their favourite local restaurant, a voucher to a yoga class, a relaxing spa treatment or another activity you know they will enjoy? This means, we’ll be supporting local and not giving away a gift that might not get used.

 

3. Shop Plastic Free 

You can almost always opt for the plastic free option. All of your parsnips, brussel sprouts and veggies can be bought loose - just take your own bags instead of those flimsy plastic ones. TIP: you can take your shopping basket to the car if you don’t have a bag, just like you would with a trolley.

You can also take your own containers to the deli counter, purchase those delicious cheese selections and meats in the amount you need, and skip the plastic. Plus, planning your food shop will avoid food waste, so you will just buy what you need.

 

4. Remember Your Reusables

We all want to support local cafes, kiosks and takeaway establishments - more so now than ever. And, never fear, there are ways to do this sustainably. Disposable coffee cups can be avoided, enjoy your drink in the shop and take a seat for a moment of calm. (Editor's Note: We're on board with this one!)

If you’re in a rush to get going, then remember your reusable cup for that hot mulled wine or festive hot chocolate to takeaway, with a low impact on the planet. Pack some shopping bags in your car or fold one in your pocket in case you make a spontaneous purchase.

 

 

5. Rewear that Cheesy Christmas Jumper or Sequin Dress

There are ways we can be more conscious this Christmas, and all year round: By supporting local, by thinking about who made our clothes, by purchasing from brands who pay their workers properly, and by paying attention to the environmental impact we are making.

Some alternatives to buying new garments this Christmas include borrowing from a friend, rewearing an outfit you already have (be a proud outfit repeater!), repairing an item of clothing to extend its life and finally, shopping secondhand and finding a fab outfit from a charity shop. We've got a lot around us here! 

If you can’t find anything in the charity shops, your friends aren’t the same size, or you don’t have something suitable, don’t worry! Look for an independent brand or try to shop locally and not online to support the local high street. We can be more mindful of what we are purchasing - and remember that everything we buy is a vote for the kind of brands and people that we want to support and who make less impact on the planet.

 

Thanks so much for the tips, Sara! 

You can discover more ways to be kinder to our planet by heading over to I Did Something Green, where Sara shares tips and information to help us live a more sustainable and plastic free life.