How to Christmas more sustainably

Choose a Sustainable Christmas

There are many ways to be less wasteful at Christmas, from sustainable gifts to composting your tree

Words: Jamie Dunn Illustration: AJ Hi ins

Christmas is the most wasteful time of year. On the weeks, days, and hours running up to the big day we often panic, and end up buying our loved ones shiny new trinkets that they neither want nor need and which will end up languishing at the back of a cupboard until the next clear out. There are plenty of more sustainable options that will prove more useful to the recipient and less harmful to the planet, while also saving you a few quid in the process.

Choose to regift Seinfeld gave us many great phrases – “Serenity now!”, “Spongeworthy”, “Master of my domain” – but we will never forgive them for badmouthing the noble art of “Regifting”. What exactly is wrong with giving a label maker you have no use for to someone who will? We advise you to go to that corner of the house where you keep all your unopened Christmas gifts from yesteryear and give some to a new home.

Choose secondhand Giving a secondhand gift isn’t being a cheap skate. First off, you’ll find beautiful items in your local charity shops and vintage stores that will last a lot longer than anything bought from fast fashion retailers. And second, by scouring secondhand book and record shops you’re likely to find unique editions and pressings that are long out of print, making these gifts much more valuable than picking something off the shelf on the high street.

For secondhand books in Glasgow, head to Voltaire & Rousseau (12-14 Otago Ln), Caledonia Books (483 Great Western Rd) and Thistle Books (55 Otago St). In Edinburgh, there’s Tills (1 Hope Park Cres), Armchair Books (72-74 West Port) and McNaughtan’s (3A, 4a Haddington Pl). And in Dundee, there’s The Book Attic (93 Perth Rd).

For secondhand records in Glasgow, there’s Mixed Up Records (18 Otago Ln), Missing Records (51 Oswald St) and Oxfam Music on Byres Road (no. 171). In Edinburgh, there’s Vinyl Villains (5 Elm Row), VoxBox (21 St Stephen St) and Elvis Shakespeare (347 Leith Walk). And in Dundee, there’s Thirteen Records (13 Union St). See the shopping guide for more info.

Choose experiences over trinkets Instead of objects, buy your loved one tickets to one of their favourite bands, take them to a great-looking exhibition or on a fun getaway.

Something Special: Three more ways to be greener this Christmas

Choose The Skinny’s wrapping paper Be sure to pick up a copy of the December issue of The Skinny magazine. Not only is it the best arts magazine in Scotland, the centre spread of that issue doubles as beautifully designed wrapping paper by two of our favourite illustrators.

Choose handmade decorations Don’t bother with cheap plastic baubles this year. On page 66 you’ll find instructions on how to make lovely handmade snowflakes for your tree that can be recycled come the New Year.

Choose to compost your tree The spectacle of desiccated pines littering the streets in January has become a potent symbol of how wasteful the festive season can be. In Edinburgh, there’s no excuse for flytipping because getting your tree composted couldn’t be easier. Simply place your tree on your street on the designated day, and the council will take it for you. Each street in Edinburgh has a different Christmas tree collection date; you can check yours at edinburgh.gov.uk

It’s easy in Dundee too. Simply request an uplift from Dundee City Council: my.dundeecity.gov.uk/service/ Christmas_Tree_Uplift

It’s a bit more complicated in Glasgow, but you can take your tree to three of the city’s parks – Pollok Country Park, Alexandra Park or Kelvingrove Park – where the trees will be chipped to be used within the parks throughout the year.