Regular readers will know how Christmas waste makes us feel here at Little Soap. For years, we’ve been on a mission to reduce the masses of rubbish that gets dumped here in the UK - and we'd love you to get behind the cause this festive year! To get you started, here are just five ways to have a sustainable Christmas. Let us know in the comments if you have anything to add!
Sustainable Gift Wrap
Unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning is surely one of the greatest things about the festive season… but traditional wrapping paper actually tops the list when it comes to Christmas waste!
Most wrapping paper contains more than just paper, and therefore can’t easily be recycled. And let's face it, in the excitement of gift unwrapping and everything else going on, lots of us tend to just bin it rather than recycle on Christmas morning. But that makes us part of the problem in a massive way...
According to this report, around 227, 000 miles of Christmas wrapping paper is thrown in the bin or poorly recycled each year - that’s the equivalent of 108 million rolls of paper! Conversely, one tonne of recycled paper could actually save almost 17 trees, 18 square feet of space at the landfill and up to 4,000 kilowatts of electricity.
What you wrap your gift in matters! So this year, make it eco. Go for reusable gift bags (hint: our drawstring bags are perfect - great for gifting, and super handy for travel and storage after the big day), or reusable cloth coverings or scarves that are a gift in themselves. Or shop around and find brands who are eco savvy, making sustainable and recyclable paper instead.
Gift responsibly
We say it every year, but it’s definitely worth repeating. How much do you really know about the gift you’re buying, and the person you’re buying it for? Do they really want that novelty apron, or will it end up in a drawer, or - worse - the bin, by Boxing Day?
This year, take some time to really consider who you’re buying for and what they’d actually want, need and use. Another hint: bar soap is always a winner this time of year! We all deserve some time out for a little pampering after all - and good hygiene never goes out of fashion either!
Consider taking part in a secret Santa with friends or family, so that each of you can gift responsibly this year. Gifts such as experiences, or tickets to special events are also a great option, and require little to no wrapping too.
Ditch the tacky decorations
Ok so we want you to do this, but we also kind of don’t want you to either. You see if your family is fond of decades-old decorations that are lifted carefully from the attic each year to hang on the tree with joy, then please do not stop. Yes, it’s likely these decorations were made with plastic - but you’re reusing them, you’re not binning them. So keep doing what you’re doing.
However, if you’re guilty of replenishing your stash every festive season, please reconsider! Lots of the decorations you find in the shops are made with plastic and often cheaply too. They don’t last, and they’re no good for the planet. So if they can’t, or you won’t reuse them - please don’t buy them!
Instead, how about spending a little time making your own decorations? We love a good excuse to go strolling through the woods picking up pine cones to create gorgeous festive garlands! Cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, dried flowers and holly sprigs are all great to use too. And why not go for a real tree this year (unless you have an artificial one to reuse, of course). A candle or two are also great for creating mood lighting, cutting down on strings of plastic lights that inevitably end up tangled too.
Stop food waste
This one is vital for all times of the year, but especially at Christmas. Food waste in the UK is a HUGE problem. And festive food packaging is no good only makes it worse.
A blog post from the Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs recommends shopping locally to try to minimise the impact of your Christmas dinner this year. Meat, vegetables, and even mince pies can be bought from local businesses in your own area - meaning you help to reduce damage to the environment caused by deliveries and production, and at the same time you’re investing in your own local community.
And what you do with your leftover food matters too. Whatever can be composted should be - and what can’t, might potentially have another meal in it yet! Leftover turkey can be frozen for up to six months if you can’t face it just yet, and who doesn’t love a Boxing Day buffet crammed with roast potatoes?!
It might take a little more effort, but cutting down on food waste can make a huge difference at Christmas (and any other time of the year). Currently, in the UK we’re wasting the equivalent of two million turkeys, five million Christmas puddings and 74 million mince pies. Insane! (Bristol Waste Company) Let's make a pledge to change those stats once and for all.
Let there be lights - eco lights
Fairy lights are synonymous with Christmas, and we know that a tree really isn’t complete without at least some twinkling. Again, if you already have lights from last year, then don’t throw them away. Keep using them - but this year make a concerted effort to be frugal about how long they’re lit for.
If you are looking to buy new lights, then go for LED lights and put them on timers to save energy. Solar powered lights are great for outdoor displays too.
What are your top tips for an eco Christmas? We’d love to hear them!