Sustainable Christmas Guide
Contents 3. Introduction 4. Eco-friendly Christmas trees – real vs. fake? 6. 5 ways to re-use your Christmas tree 8. Eco-friendly gift wrapping 10. Make your own wreath 11. Sustainable festive food guide 12. Zero-waste festive leftover recipes 14. Give a gift to nature this Christmas
Get in touch Soil Association, Spear House, 51 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6AD | 0300 330 0100 | soilassociation.org @soilassociation Soil Association 2023 The reader of this report agrees not to copy, reproduce, extract or transmit in any form, the whole, or part of, the data, materials or information contained in it. Registered Charity No. 206862 in England and Wales. Registered Charity No. SC039168 in Scotland.
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Welcome to our Sustainable Christmas Guide For over 75 years, the Soil Association charity has worked with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world. This holiday season, join us in embracing the spirit of giving whilst treading lightly on our planet. In a world where environmental concerns are becoming increasingly urgent, this guidebook is designed to help you celebrate the festive season with conscious choices. Our team have pooled their knowledge to bring you their best tips for a sustainable festive season, and we hope that we can inspire you to create magical moments without compromising the well-being of our environment. Did you know that every year in the UK we throw away enough wrapping paper to circle the globe 9 times! We’ve packed pages 8-9 with tips for eco-friendly gift wrapping, so you can start making simple and creative swaps to reduce your waste over the festive period. When it comes to the centerpiece of your festive décor, we’ve got you covered. In the UK alone over 7 million trees are thrown away every year – on pages 4-5 learn how to choose a tree that aligns with your environmental
values, and on pages 6-7 you can discover ideas for reusing your tree once the festivities are over. And what’s a festive celebration without a feast to remember? Our guide doesn’t stop at decorations; it dives into the heart of your holiday dinner. Discover tips on shopping for a festive feast with a lower carbon footprint and minimal food waste. An incredible 5 million puddings, 2 million turkeys and 74 million mince pies go to waste every festive season. Make the most of leftovers with our favourite low-waste recipes on pages 12-13. Every swap, large and small, makes a world of difference. Thank you for choosing to embark on this ecofriendly journey with us. Together, let’s make this festive season not only a time of joy and togetherness but also a celebration of our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.
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Eco-Friendly Christmas Trees – Real vs. Fake Christmas trees are often the centerpiece of celebrations, but they can also contribute to a large proportion of the season’s waste. Read on to find out the most eco-friendly options for your Christmas tree.
What are the differences between real and fake Christmas trees? Most artificial trees are made in China, with the dual environmental impact of being made from plastic, PVC and metal, and then shipped overseas. It isn’t just manufacturing that racks up their carbon footprint. Artificial Christmas trees aren’t recyclable, so when they’re inevitably thrown away, they end up in landfill, going nowhere fast. According to the Carbon Trust, a two-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg, more than ten times that of a real tree that’s burned after Christmas. In other words, you’d need to re-use an artificial tree 10 times to negate its carbon 4
footprint, yet it’s estimated that fake trees are used only four times, regardless of improving quality. Compare this with a real, locally sourced tree and the difference is stark. Christmas trees take around 10-12 years to grow to the most popular size of 6 feet. During that time, they provide a habitat for wildlife and capture carbon from the atmosphere. It’s important to take care when disposing of real trees - trees that end up on rubbish heaps can decompose and release methane, which negatively impacts the climate. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to dispose of your tree responsibly. Check pages 6-7 for ideas to extend the life of your Christmas tree.
What should you look for in a real and sustainable tree?
If possible, source from an organic independent retailer or farm shop, as these providers are more likely to opt for growers who totally avoid pesticides on their farms.
So, if you are looking for a real and sustainable tree, where should you start? Firstly, you don’t need to worry about deforestation when purchasing a real tree: most Christmas trees are grown as a horticultural crop and aren’t felled from pre-existing forests.
It goes without saying, the more locally the tree is sourced the better, as it reduces the miles travelled, supports the local economy (a lot of work over many years goes into growing Christmas trees) as well as – hopefully – adding an extra element of traceability to the centrepiece of your Christmas decorations.
As a crop, there are things you can look out for: • Source an FSC Certified tree • Source it organically • Source it locally Christmas trees suffer from similar pest problems as many crops, so pesticide use is often high. However, it’s worth looking for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Certified trees, as they’re grown in a responsibly managed way and often minimise pesticide use.
What’s more, the import of live plants from abroad poses a huge biosecurity risk to plant species in the UK, introducing pests and diseases that can have a devastating effect on our farms and woodland. Opting for a tree with a Grown in Britain certificate guarantees your Christmas tree won’t have been imported, helping to reduce this risk as much as possible - find your nearest Grown in Britain seller here. Remember, don’t be afraid to ask about the environmental credentials of the tree you’re thinking of buying!
Five ways to re-use your Christmas tree A whopping 7 million Christmas trees are thrown away in the UK each year, so re-using your tree after the Christmas holidays is a great way to reduce waste at home. We’ve come up with five tips and tricks to get you started - happy re-using!
1 Start a new compost pile Still haven’t got around to creating your compost pile? Well now’s your chance! Evergreen branches make the perfect base, all you need to do is trim and stack your Christmas tree branches four to six inches high and start adding your kitchen scraps starting with your Christmas dinner peelings.
2 Enrich your soils with
pine needles
Pine needles don’t collect mould and decompose slowly making them a fantastic resource to use in your garden. Remove your branches from the tree and shake off any dead needles and you’ve got yourself a natural fertiliser.
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3 Create a shelter for
bugs and birds
The winter months can be hard on our British wildlife, so why not use your Christmas tree to give them a little helping hand? Either keep your tree in its stand in the garden to create a safe place for birds to nest, or lay it down on its side to make a perfect haven for bugs. Even hedgehogs might pay you a visit!
4 Adopt a living
Christmas tree
Thinking ahead? Did you know you can now buy a living, potted Christmas tree? These trees are grown on the same British tree farms as cut trees, but instead are potted and left to grow. When Christmas is over, simply take off your decorations and move the pot outside to grow slowly with little maintenance over the year and bring inside again when next Christmas comes around. What a great idea!
5 Recycle your tree Most local councils have an allocated day for Christmas tree collections – simply contact your council and make sure to put the date in your diary. Et voilà! You’ve got yourself a no fuss tree collection and recycling service!
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Eco-friendly gift wrapping From the gifts we buy, to the way we wrap them, and how we choose to decorate our homes, opting for less wasteful choices over the holidays can have a big impact for the planet.
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Don’t doubt the power our individual choices can have! It’s estimated that each year, us Britons throw away enough wrapping paper to circle the globe 9 times! Imagine the impact we could all make if, together, we took small steps to reduce our waste at Christmas time. Read on for our environmentally friendly Christmas wrapping ideas, and a brilliant guide from Organic Blooms on how to make your own wreath at home.
1 Go for gift bags Gift bags are a great alternative to wrapping paper and can easily be re-used and re-purposed time and time again. You could also try giving plain paper shopping bags a festive makeover by decorating them with stamps and pens.
2 Reduce, reuse, recycle Approximately 108 million rolles of wrapping paper are thrown away at Christmas every year. Up to 3kg of CO2 emissions can be generated in the production of just 1kg of wrapping paper, so finding sustainable alternatives is a great way to reduce your waste and your carbon footprint. Why not try adding a little personal flair to your gifts this year and re-use an old magazine, comic book or newspaper to wrap up your presents. This recyclable gift wrapping is a great way to save some money as well as use up old paper you would have otherwise thrown away.
3 Stockings Forget wrapping paper altogether and start using a good old-fashioned stocking! There is nothing more exciting than a filled stocking at the end of the bed or under the tree.
A personalised stocking for each member of the family will last for years and becomes a lovely memory for years to come.
4 Brown paper packages
tied up with string It’s estimated that the UK uses a million rolls of sticky tape on Christmas eve alone. Ditch the tape this year and opt for a string to tie up those loose paper ends. Not only will this eco-friendly gift wrapping give your presents a classic look, but it will mean you can re-use your wrapping paper without it getting torn and ruined. Top Tip: Using your string, tie a small branch from your Christmas tree or cinnamon stick to make your gifts extra festive.
5 Use FSC or PEFC approved
wrapping paper If you do opt for wrapping paper, looking for the FSC or PEFC logos is a great way to be sure that the paper comes from responsible sources. These logos guarantee that the labelled wood or paper doesn’t come from illegal logging or damaging forestry practices learn more about the benefits of sustainable forestry.
Make your own wreath A stunning natural wreath, finished with a hessian bow, can transform your front door into a scene worthy of a Christmas card. If you fancy having a go at making your own, Organic Blooms offer a kit complete with a certified organic willow wreath ring, grown and woven at Organic Blooms along with jute twine, a hessian bow and a selection of dried flowers and seed heads, all grown in their organic cutting fields. You could also make a wreath from your own materials. Here’s how: 1. First you need a ball of twine and a wreath base (10-inch diameter is ideal). Copper wire bases are available from floristry and craft suppliers; if you choose a willow base make sure it is woven from British-grown certified organic willow for maximum sustainability. 2. Next collect plenty of hardy, healthy and hydrated evergreen foliage. Medium and small leaved shrubs in a variety of textures and colours work best: try blue spruce, yew, box, holly, garrya, holm oak, euonymous, hebe, mature ivy with berries and bay. If you don’t have anything suitable in your own garden, ask a friend or relative if you can cut from theirs – please don’t take foliage from parks, nature reserves, woodland, hedgerows or from any other wild or public place. Cut 12-15cm lengths, stripping the leaves from the bottom 2cm. 3. Tie the end of your twine to your wreath base. Gather your foliage in bundles of three stems – can be different types or the same. Lay your first bundle on your base with one stem angled to the left, one central to the base, and one slightly to the right. Bind the bundle to the base by winding the twine around a couple of times, pulling it tight to hold in place. Leave the twine attached ready to wrap around your next bundle.
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4. Continue adding more bundles of foliage, wrapping the twine around tightly each time. Overlap each new bundle with the cut ends of the previous one – this will hide them nicely, aiming for an overlap of at least a third of each bundle creates a nice full look. Repeating patterns of bundles gives a very pleasing effect. Once your base is completely covered, tie off the twine. If you’re using a willow base, you could just cover a section – it looks equally as effective. 5. Now to decorate, try natural garden materials such as pine cones, red crab apples, seed heads, twigs of contorted willow or hazel and feathers. You can also use dried flowers from your garden or source certified organic, British grown dried flowers. Attach your decorations to florists’ stub wires, singly or in small bunches, leaving a long end of wire free. Choose three or five of each type of decoration and place in groups around the wreath, pushing the wire through the base and wrapping around to secure. 6. Decide which is the top of your wreath and fix a stub wire or twine loop on the back to hang – then finish with a bow of hessian ribbon, fixed to the top or bottom of your wreath with wire. 7. After Christmas carefully take your wreath apart and compost the components, saving the base and twine for next year.
Sustainable festive food guide When creating your festive menu, there are plenty of swaps, big and small, that can reduce the environmental impact of your feast. Eat seasonally
Shop indie
Reduce food waste
Most of our beloved veg heroes at Christmas, including potatoes, sprouts, carrots, leeks, and parsnips, are all in season throughout the winter.
It’s never been more important to embrace our our local independent retailers! Try sourcing some of your ingredients from your local indie and show some love for organic farmers and producers in your area this Christmas.
An estimated 5 million puddings, 2 million turkeys, and 74 million mince pies go to waste each Christmas! This is part of a trend that sees one third of all food produced annually go to waste.
Buying seasonal, locally grown food can have a huge impact, cutting down food miles and lowering the carbon footprint of your dinner. You’ll also be supporting the UK’s nature-friendly farms, which support more wildlife and use fewer pesticides. .
Give the planet a gift that . lasts all year round Give a monthly gift to the Soil Association.
Pop into your nearest independent retailer to find some amazing seasonal specials and support your local economy in the process. Find your local indies, farm shops, and markets selling organic food here.
To create a food system that can feed our growing population, whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting natural resources, we must take food waste into account. Let’s make the most of our leftovers and reduce food waste at home this Christmas time. Check the next pages for a selection of our favourite zero-waste festive recipes, to ensure that your Christmas dinner is the gift that keeps on giving!
Zero-waste Christmas leftover recipes Brussel Sprout Kimchi Fermentation has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years with the three K’s (kimchi, kefir and kombucha) on everybody’s lips.
Ingredients
You can add kraut to that list this Christmas, with this delicious recipe for a seasonal Sauerkraut from the Community Farm.
• A few peppercorns (you can also add some sliced garlic and chilli for a little extra punch)
This festive version ferments Brussels sprouts instead of cabbage and makes a magical addition to the Christmas cheese board.
• 300g sprouts • 2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp caraway seeds
Method Finely shred 300g sprouts. Add 2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp caraway seeds and a few peppercorns (you can also add some sliced garlic and chilli for a little extra punch). Massage for 5 minutes to release the liquid from the sprouts. Pack the sprouts into a jar (roughly 400ml) and weigh them down with a small tumbler, then leave overnight. The following day, the sprouts should have released enough liquid for them to be just submerged, if not add a little water so they’re covered when pressed down. Leave, with the weight still pressing down and the lid off the jar, in a cool dark place for up to a week. Stir occasionally. It’ll start to ferment in a few days. Taste every day.
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When it becomes sour put the lid on and store in the fridge, the flavour will develop with time.
Christmas Turkey Chowder Turn your Christmas turkey into the gift that keeps on giving. Simple and inexpensive to make, this creamy chowder from Yeo Valley hits the spot every time - a great alternative to turkey sandwiches!
Ingredients
Method
• 2 tsp olive oil
Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add the celery and onion. Cover and sweat over a medium heat for 5 mins.
• 3 sticks of celery, diced • 1 onion, finely diced • 400g potatoes cut into cubes • 5 litres of chicken stock • 2 bay leaves • 350g sweetcorn, tinned or frozen • 400g leftover turkey cut into bite-sized chunks • 200g Yeo Valley Crème Fraîche • Small bunch of parsley, chopped
Pour the stock into the pan along with the potato and bay leaves and simmer for 10 mins until the potatoes start to become tender. Add the turkey, sweetcorn and a good grind of black pepper. Cook for another 5 mins. Check the vegetables are cooked and adjust the seasoning. Stir in the Crème Fraîche then divide between 4 bowls and top with the parsley - dinner is served!
Give nature the gift that keeps on giving 1 in 6 species of UK wildlife currently face extinction
Plant a tree for wildlife Wildlife in the UK is in crisis. 1 in 6 species of UK wildlife currently face extinction. At Woodoaks – a farm donated to our charity – we’re planting trees to support wildlife. From dormice, bats and bees to butterflies, jays and nuthatches, each tree we plant creates homes for over 130 species of wildlife. Trees planted at Woodoaks absorb carbon from the atmosphere and safely store it deep in the soil. They also act as a barrier, preventing soil from being washed away in flash floods, or being blown away in dry months. One inch of soil takes over 500 years to form. Planting hedgerows helps protect this precious resource.
Give a gift that keeps on giving. t to Give a monthly gif n. the Soil Associatio
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£3/month plants hedgerow trees, like hawthorn and field maple, which provide safe shelter, food and nesting habitats for dormice, birds and pollen rich flowers for bees. £5/month plants native broadleaf trees such as oak and beech. These provide food and habitats for a huge range of wildlife including bats, nuthatches and small mammals. £7/month plants fruit and nut trees like apple and walnut. These trees are sown with wildflower mixes, which help support a wider range of wildlife.
About the Soil Association At the Soil Association we understand that many of the problems society and nature face are connected. So we work on multiple fronts to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our world. Planting trees is just one of the ways we’re doing this, but as a charity we need your help to continue.
This Christmas, give a gift to nature. Give a monthly gift to the Soil Association.
Give a monthly gift