Christmas is an exciting time of year, but sometimes we might forget about how much waste the holiday produces. Luckily, we can all do our bit to make sure we reduce our carbon footprint, and these 4 ideas can help you enjoy Christmas and be eco-friendly.
1. Reusable or recyclable gift bags
Wrapping paper contributes to a large portion of waste over Christmas and can be equivalent to millions of trees being cut down. One idea is to use fabric to wrap your gifts, which can then be reused and not thrown away. Regifting bags is also a great way to reduce waste and saves on buying new bags.
2. Create your own gift tags
In the same vein as wrapping paper, gift tags produce a lot of waste. As they only get read once and are thrown away after opening, a great idea is to make your own gift tags out of old Christmas cards. This also means you’re reusing material from greeting cards that would also otherwise have been thrown away.
3. Shop for ‘green’ gifts
As well as being eco-friendly with gift wrap, you can buy gifts that are also considered ‘green’. This could be a digital gift like a phone app if you know someone who uses them a lot, or you could make your own gift for them if you’re feeling creative.
4. Don’t forget to turn off your Christmas lights
For safety and energy usage reasons, don’t forget to turn off your Christmas lights regularly. This will eliminate any safety hazards and save on your energy bill. Placing them on a timer is a good idea if you feel likely to forget.
