A Greener Christmas: Make This Festive Season Kind to the Planet
- veronikatoth7
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Christmas can be a time of joy, warmth and generosity, but also a time when we consume more, waste more and use more energy than usual. The good news is: with a bit of thought and creativity, you can enjoy all the festive magic while reducing environmental impact. Here are many of the best tips to make your celebrations more sustainable.
Make your own decorations
Rather than buying new plastic or glittery baubles and tinsel, why not craft decorations from what you already have? You can re-us old wrapping paper to make paper chains, gathering pinecones on a woodland walk, or baking slices of orange studded with cloves to hang on the tree, which adds a lovely festive scent too. If you store decorations carefully at the end of the season, you can bring them out again for many Christmases, cutting down on one-use plastic or cheap decorations, but the natural ones can also be composted.
Save energy with the lights
If you’re thinking of new fairy lights, go for LED or solar-powered versions. They use far less energy than conventional bulbs and help reduce electricity consumption while still giving your home that cosy, twinkling glow.
Plan the food and waste less
Christmas dinners don’t have to mean high-carbon or heavily packaged food. Try cooking with seasonal, locally grown produce, such as sprouts, leeks, cabbage, pears or cranberries, which tend to travel less and can often be found at local markets.
Overbuying at Christmas often means leftovers go to waste.
Instead: buy only what you need, perhaps use a shopping list; compost vegetable peelings or make stock from them; save leftovers for another meal; freeze what you can, or even donate surplus to a food bank if possible.
Planning ahead and mindful portioning not only helps the planet,but it also saves money.
Smarter shopping and responsible wrapping
Choose more sustainable gifts
Support small, local shops, craft makers and farmers’ markets
Lower carbon footprint and less packaging.
Give experiences rather than things.
Memberships, classes, theatre tickets or days out bring lasting memories and less waste.
Make edible gifts, there are loads of great ideas and options around the internet.
Wrap with care
Avoid shiny, foil or glitter paper and plastic ribbons.
Use recycled or brown paper with reusable ribbon or string
Repurpose what you have
Newspapers, magazines or fabric make great wrapping; add sprigs of holly or pinecones for decoration.
Enjoy low-impact festive activities
Rather than always reaching for the shops, consider outings to local heritage sites, woodlands or countryside for walks. Many heritage organisations or local nature reserves, country parks run winter events: wreath-making workshops, carol concerts, winter illuminations and more. Such outings help you enjoy Christmas without contributing to overconsumption.
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