How To Go Green This Christmas

We all want to do our bit for the planet, but it can seem impossible to go green among all the excesses of the festive season. We know how difficult it can be to make changes, but there are some really simple and effective ways to minimise your environmental impact this Christmas. Here are our top 6 tips to help you get into the Christmas spirit, and care for the planet at the same time.

First things first - the best way to reduce our environmental impact is to make sure the things we buy are made to last. This reduces consumption, lessens the pressure on production and, perhaps most importantly, reduces the number of Christmas gifts which ultimately end up in landfill. A well-made, good-quality gift will become a firm favourite over time, and will definitely be worth the extra investment. It will also be much easier to repair, donate or pass on something that’s been built to last once they’ve finished with it.

Speaking of reducing consumption and buying better, why not get all the adults in your family to do a Secret Santa? Instead of panic-buying for everyone, you can spend your time and money finding one special gift that the recipient will love and keep for years to come, which ultimately means less consumption, less waste and less spending, too. Better still, you can take the time to find the perfect gift that inspires them to get outdoors.

Every Christmas, consumers in the UK use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper – and over 83km² of this will end up in the bin.* Using recycled and/or recyclable paper means that the packaging we use avoids landfill and can even be reused; and who doesn’t love the rustic appeal of brown paper and string? We also love reusing last year’s Christmas cards to make tags and keep them out of waste.

If you’re feeling really creative, try using a festive printed scarf to wrap your gift for a no-waste alternative – which doubles up as an extra gift! 

We can find almost anything we want online but getting those goods to us rarely comes without a hefty price tag – not to mention the cost to the environment. Reducing the airmiles of your Christmas shopping by buying presents that are shipped from the UK, or even ones that are made here if you can, will massively reduce your seasonal footprint. 

Even better than buying presents locally? Not buying them at all! Homemade gifts are always a thoughtful alternative to buying presents - and you can go as budget-friendly or extravagant as you want to - but now they’re also being recognised as a great way to avoid many of the environmental issues the festive season brings. A knitted hat or scarf will make the perfect present for those who love to spend Christmas outdoors.

Everyone knows the best part of the festive season is Christmas dinner, and you don’t have to sacrifice any tradition to make it environmentally friendly. Shopping locally for your produce not only supports your local economy but ensures that your food comes from sustainable farms and reduces the transport required as well. And, if you’re really committed, why not give a meat-free Christmas a go?

Some more small changes you can make this year include regifting previous presents you haven’t used, buying a Christmas tree in a pot and reusing it for two or three years (or longer if you repot it!), and using candles instead of Christmas lights to get the festive glow without the energy consumption. You can also make decorations and crackers instead of buying them to keep waste down.

We know that not everyone is able to make their own gifts – it takes time and a lot of creativity which not all of us have! That’s why our experts work hard to source great-quality products that last and are fit for their end use so your money, and the products, aren’t wasted. Shop our top picks for Christmas below, and don’t forget to use our new sustainability product filter: