Cutting waste at Christmas

Most of us aren't thinking about the environmental impact of Christmas when we cut into our turkey, open our gifts, or socialise with family and friends but our three days of Christmas festivities equate to 5.5% of the UK's annual total carbon footprint.

So, let’s consider our impact on the environment and take small steps towards a more environmentally friendly Christmas. Everything you need already exists…

Buying recycled or second-hand items for Christmas presents is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Online websites such as Freecycle, Facebook marketplace and Gumtree have lots of listings for children’s toys, household items such as vases, plants and ornaments.

Alternatively, you could visit a local charity shop where you can buy books, puzzles and games and give to a much needed good cause at the same time. In fact, now is a great time to have a clear out and donate any unwanted items that you no longer use to a charity shop and give them a new lease of life.

Cut down on wastage According to Biffa, 100 million bags of rubbish are sent to landfill in the UK and we waste around £64million of food over the Christmas period including 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings and 74 million mince pies. Why not start by making a meal plan and sticking to a shopping list to minimise food wastage and free up space in your freezer so if you do have unused food, you can save it for another occasion.

Small changes make a difference There are numerous small changes that collectively will make a huge difference to reducing the carbon footprint of Christmas.

In this unprecedented year of rising costs, let’s remember that what matters most is spending precious time with family and friends and that creates zero carbon footprint.