Find out why Christmas doesn’t have to mean waste and blind consumerism.
Happily, the world is becoming increasingly more concerned with being eco-friendly, and chances are, you are too. We no longer buy single-use plastic water bottles, we use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap to keep our food fresh, and we’re more careful about our carbon footprint, reconsidering just how often we need to take trips overseas or use our fuel-guzzling vehicles.
This year, when Christmas rolls around, it’s a great idea to try to be more eco-friendly. Here are some tips on how you can make one of the most commercial seasons planet-friendly.
Be Thoughtful With Your Gifts
Firstly, when it comes to buying gifts, don’t lose your head and buy pretty much anything you can grab off the shelves for your loved one. Start planning early, read Christmas gift ideas online for some tips, and buy items when you need them instead of wasting money on things that people don’t really want and will never use. Go for items that are produced ethically, and that are made from natural substances like glass and wood and metal instead of plastic. Instead of buying things that people really don’t need, go for things that are useful. Ask your loved ones what they want for a change, instead of trying to guess. Finally, why not go for experiences over items? They won’t take up space in anyone’s house and they’ll provide memories that last forever.
Get Crafty
Instead of buying everything, it’s time to get crafty. A box of homemade Christmas cookies is a great gift, and making your own wreath means that you can collect your own materials from nature instead of buying ones that have been shipped a long way. Repurpose second-hand items when it comes to gifts— make quilts out of old clean clothing and get your kids to decorate second-hand photo frames that you can gift family pictures in.
Go Ethical With Your Food
Do your best to cut down on the red meat that you eat this Christmas — its carbon footprint means that it isn’t great for the planet, thanks to methane gases and the use of fossil fuels that produce and transport it. When it comes to other food, why not try to buy locally from farms instead of supermarkets? You’ll know that the animals have been treated with humanity and that the food hasn’t been transported over vast distances, so you can enjoy your Christmas turkey completely guilt-free.
What About Your Tree?
Research has shown that huge amounts of Christmas trees are thrown away every year. Although, you should still bear in mind that real trees are still a whole lot better for the earth than plastic ones, which often break quickly and are thrown away after a few years — adding to landfill sites. Get an organic Christmas tree that has been farmed sustainably. You could go to a local farmer or even grow your own. There are also some Christmas tree renting schemes you could look into.
Christmas doesn’t have to be all about consumerism. These tips should help you celebrate this year while making sure that you’re eco-friendly and ethical at the same time.
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