Dreaming of a green Christmas

Kim Pratt, Circular Economy Campaigner

Christmas is a special time of year, but the pressure to spend money is everywhere. Over-consumption adds to the climate crisis because the more we buy, the more resources are extracted and climate emissions generated.

But you don’t have to buy into the hype to make sure you have a special Christmas! Instead of having a consumption-heavy holiday, you can have a creative, personal and less expensive one instead.

Here are some suggestions for how to make your festive season better for the planet. Buy less. Secret Santa is a fun way to make sure everyone in a group ends up with one personal gift, rather than lots of small things. There are lots of websites to help you coordinate it without needing to get the whole group together. Buy second hand or make your own. A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be an expensive one. It’s ok and often even more appreciated to buy second hand or make something yourself –and you can have much more fun shopping. Rent a Christmas tree from a Scottish farm rather than buying it. Once Christmas is over, the tree is returned to the farm and replanted.

Rent your party outfit. You don’t need to spend lots of money on an outfit you’ll only wear once or twice. Instead check out the websites that rent clothes – there are options for a couple of days for a particular event, or a whole month so you can wear your chosen attire across the festive season.

Make some of your own decorations. Fairy lights are not the only way to make your home look festive; make paper snowflakes and chains, bake salt dough into christmas tree ornaments or forage for pine cones and green foliage. If you have kids, they’ll be delighted to get involved, and it’ll be something special to bring out the Christmas box for years to come. Choose your wrapping paper wisely. Any paper with glitter or foil can’t be recycled, so instead opt for plain brown paper, old newspaper or decorate your own. Get creative with some festive drawings. And when you are unwrapping presents make sure to keep back undamaged paper for next year. Plan ahead for meals. Research shows food waste increases at this time of year. Minimise your food waste by planning ahead. Portion planning apps can be useful if you are expecting guests. Don’t forget to make a bit of space in your freezer so you can keep any leftovers. Lift share. If you’re travelling across the country to see family and you're going to an area that’s difficult to get to on public transport, see if you can find people to share the journey with. Places like community Facebook groups are a helpful way to find people. As individuals, changing our buying habits and rejecting corporate greenwash is a great way to be part of the shift that we need towards more sustainable levels of consumption.