Sustainable Christmas - Decorations and all the trimmings
Published: 09/12/2024The festive season is a time for friends, families and celebration, but many of us are looking for ways to make this time more sustainable.
From the things that we eat and wear, to the places we shop and the gifts we give, there are so many ways we can have a festive season that won’t cost the planet.
Our Climate Officer has shared their plans and ideas for simple sustainable alternatives this Christmas.
Decorating
Most of us love decorating our homes for the festive season, as the decor brings extra joy and comfort to our homes.
However, the majority of decorations are made of plastic and are of poor reusable quality. Check out the list below for some sustainable festive decoration ideas.
Use what you have already
They say the best Christmas decorations are family heirlooms that emerge year after year - making them instantly sustainable. As a family we have a few that have been purchased over the years from special places we have been to - which normally ends up in an argument over who puts them up!
Get Crafty
- Good old-fashioned snowflakes. Not only does it use up old magazines, newspapers or wrapping paper that you have lying around, but it also keeps the kids entertained.
- If you can resist eating them, gingerbread (in various festive inspired shapes) make great decorations and any leftovers can be eaten there and then. BCC have a gingerbread robin recipe to help get you started.
- Collect some natural materials such as pinecones in your local area or head on a winter walk. The National Trust have a helpful guide on turning them into a festive mouse or making them look snowy.
- Have a go at making your own dried citrus garland, a zero waste Christmas decoration that will make your house smell super festive. You could pop them in the oven when it is cooling down after a meal to save on energy.
The Tree
The debate over which is better for the planet 'rages' each year.
If you have an artificial one, then I would stick with it, look after it and keep it going for as long as you can.
For a real tree, I would say one with roots is the best option, as you can plant it outside after the event and reuse again next year. There are even places now that rent trees for Christmas, and you can return it to them to look after for the next year.
Or, you can get it recycled with Pilgrims Hospices as part of their special Christmas tree fundraising campaign. Simply make a donation of your choice when registering your real Christmas tree and their volunteers will collect it from your doorstep and take it to be recycled. You can book your real tree for collection on Pilgrims Hospices' website.
Lights
Up to 500 tonnes of fairy lights are thrown away each year, so how can you light up Christmas and make less waste?
LED light are much more environmentally friendly than traditional twinkly lights, because they use up to 80% less energy. If every UK household swapped a string of incandescent lights for its LED equivalent, we could save more than £11 million on our energy bills and 29,000 tonnes of CO2 - just over the 12 days of Christmas.
You could even switch to solar-powered lights outdoors, and put them on a set timer, making environmental and energy savings.