Have a wonderful and eco friendly Christmas!

As well as having a fun time with family and friends, we can also do things to have a more eco friendly Christmas. Here are some ideas to help you make ‘greener’ family traditions this year…

Eco friendly Christmas trees

Looking for the most environmentally friendly Christmas tree option? Real Christmas trees are usually more sustainable than artificial options. A study found that you’d have to use your fake tree for 20 years to make it greener than a real tree (funnily enough, we’ve had our plastic tree for 20 years now!).

However, many real trees are dumped in January, rather than recycled / composted. If you get a real tree, you could use it for firewood next winter, mulch it, or compost it. If you need to dump it, take it to the local green waste tip. Living trees with roots attached can be planted in your garden.

If you are crafty, you could make a ‘tree’ from old pallets and decorate it with your stored decorations (we all have a few boxes of those in the loft!).

Wrap gifts with recyclable paper or fabric

Wrap presents with either wrapping paper that can be recycled (rather than plasticised paper) or you could try wrapping with fabric. If you use large pieces of fabric like scarves or towels, they can be an extra present wrapping the present! Or you can use fabric squares that can be reused over and over.

See this post by Carly at My Green Toddler for some great ideas 10 Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas – Get Resourceful and Creative!

Buy eco friendly Christmas crackers

Replace single-use crackers with reusable ones. We have some homemade ones that we use every year, and fill them with little gifts, a joke and a paper hat.

Create or buy a beautiful and natural wreath for the door

Wreaths are a lovely Christmas decoration but some that are more eco-friendly than others. Buy or make a fresh wreath using seasonal and natural flowers and leaves, rather than wreaths with plastic or glittery decorations. Search online for some ideas.

Invest in a reusable advent calendar

Buy a reusable advent calendar and fill it with little gifts or sweets. You can use them year after year.

Reduce your food waste

At Christmas, it is easier to be a bit more wasteful with food, as we often buy too much! Putting leftovers in the fridge or freezer will help you make the most of the lovely food at this time of year. Cooked meat like ham freezes well, and can be used later in the year.

Buy second hand gifts

Many people will be happy to get second hand gifts like books, toys, clothes, and so many other things you can find online or in op shops. You can get more for your money, and support a charity at the same time.

Or give the gift of ‘experiences’ rather than a physical gift

Instead of giving a friend or family member a physical gift, give them a gift of an ‘experience’. It could be an annual membership to an organisation like a zoo or museum, a voucher for an activity like an online course.. Or it could be a voucher for something you could do for them, like babysitting or making dinner for them at their house.

Switch to LED Christmas lights

LED Christmas lights are more eco friendly than traditional twinkling incandescent lights, because they use up to 80% less energy. And using solar powered lights outdoors is also a great idea to save money and electricity.

More ideas for an eco friendly Christmas

Here are links to my other posts about planning an eco friendly Christmas, and reducing waste:

Reduced waste Christmas

Green gift ideas

Lower waste living – the basics