6 Dec 2019
Dialling back Christmas
There is no doubt that Christmas/New Year, has the potential to turn into a season of excess. Fortunately, there are many ways that we can limit the impact, with a bit of forward planning.
Buying Gifts
- Many gifts are bought and given with the best of intentions, but can fall far of the mark of what a person actually wants. Talking to family, friends and work colleagues in advance. Agreeing a secret Santa approach so not so many gifts are purchased. Agreeing a spending limit, and sticking to one gift as opposed to many little things, can really focus what is purchased. Of course, one of the best ideas is to make a gift. Whether it is a baked good, something knitted or an album of photos…
Gift Wrapping
- When it comes to wrapping gifts, getting creative could really limit the amount of gift paper that goes to landfill (over 225,000 miles of gift wrap are thrown away). You could use scraps of fabric, brown paper, magazines – anything goes. Decorate with anything you can forage in your garden/nature.
Christmas Tree
- If you are buying a real Christmas tree, then think in advance about what will happen to it after. You might buy a potted one and plant it in your garden. Some zoos take trees for animal enrichment. Check in with your local council, to see how you can recycle yours.
Make a List
- Whether you are shopping for gifts or food, sticking to a list, can help to minimise impulse purchases you don’t really need. Turkey, mince pies and Christmas puddings top the list of things that don’t get eaten and get thrown away…
Leftovers
- Clearing your freezer before the holiday season, can make way for storing leftovers from the Christmas period. If you have family & friends over for meals, it can be a great idea to send them home with ‘doggy bag’s’, if you don’t think you can eat all of the leftovers. Don’t forget to compost or use your council’s food waste bin for scraps.
Other ideas
- Make arrangements to share transport wherever possible.
- Decorate your home with items from nature.
- Attend craft fairs, try to buy presents that have been made locally.
- Use washable napkins, and avoid one-time use plastic plates & cutlery. Purchase some reusable drinking straws.
- Cut down this years Christmas cards to be next year’s gift tags.
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