Christmas is around the corner, and many people will surely be getting excited about decorating their homes.
However, the festive season we all look forward to contributes a significant amount of waste. Research shows that British households generate around 30 per cent more waste than usual over Christmas, while the US alone produces 25 per cent more during the season. Much of this waste comes from the excessive use of food, gift wrapping and packaging.
Here are 10 simple and eco-friendly decoration initiatives to make this year’s Christmas greener. With a few twists and turns, your holiday season will still be enjoyable without leaving a negative impact on the environment.
‘Wrap joy, not landfill’: Using recycled or fabric gift wrapping papers
Where to get them: Your redundant canvas/fabric bags at home, or from gift wrap and home decor retailers such as Hallmark.
Data reveals that over 1.8 million rolls of wrapping paper are thrown away each Christmas in the UK alone. Therefore, we can still keep the joy by adopting reusable alternatives such as paper and canvas gift bags, which don’t contain non-paper and non-recyclable additives like metallic flakes.
Go for eco-friendly Christmas potted trees
Where to get them: Online home and garden stores such as Thompson & Morgan.
The truth is that both natural and artificial Christmas trees come with their own environmental impacts. The farming process of natural trees consumes large areas of land and requires significant amounts of water and fertilisers, while most artificial trees are made from a non-biodegradable type of plastic. Given that many households replace their Christmas trees every few years, opting for a live, potted tree that can be replanted after the holiday is over could be a solution.
Decorate your houseplants
If your house already contains an abundance of houseplants, decorating them can be another Christmas tree spin-off to minimise your spending during the holiday season.
DIY #1: Dried orange or citrus peel decor
Where to get them: You can shop for fresh oranges or any citrus fruit from any of your nearby supermarkets, such as Walmart or Aldi.
With only a few materials needed, an orange garland could be hung on the Christmas tree and wreath, or scattered across the fireplace mantle and dining table as embellishment. In this way, we are making a difference by avoiding fruit waste and repurposing discarded material instead of hunting for new ones.
DIY #2: Cranberry and popcorn garland
This idea is another DIY trick. Fresh cranberries, popcorn, a needle and a cotton thread are all required for a Christmas garland.
DIY #3: Snap up your old spare boxes – another ‘Wrapping joy’ edition
Where to get them: This idea encourages reusing those delivery boxes that we intend to throw away. If you don’t have one, you can still find them online, such as at Paper Mart.
Now it’s time to go around the house and gather all the spare boxes, from shoe boxes, food boxes, to printing paper boxes. You can paint them up, punch out various shapes, and fill them with any charms or decorative materials.
Thrifting and exchanging for vintage decorations
Where to get them: Thrift stores, flea markets, or online thrift platforms like Etsy.
If digging things out of your house feels time-consuming, shopping secondhand could be an option. Visiting thrift stores and flea markets allows us to donate, exchange and bring home affordable materials or finished decorations. The process will help reduce waste and add a touch of vintage charm to your Christmas theme.
Create a festive table with recyclable crackers
Where to get them: Recyclable crackers can be found on Amazon or Holly Co.
With some recyclable crackers, vintage glasses you shopped at the secondhand stores, and reusable fabric craft place mats, you would be able to set up a table of your own.
Invest in reusable Advent calendars
Where to get them: E-commerce platforms such as Etsy and Amazon.
Advent calendars are one of those Christmas items that are thrown away after a single use. The sustainable options are often made with eco-friendly, reusable cards.
Design digital or plantable holiday cards
Where to get them: Digital cards on Greenvelope or recycled cards on Friendsheep.
The Christmas holiday will not be complete without sending cards to our close ones. As traditional cards are often wrapped in non-recyclable plastic, a more mindful version of cards does add up over time, making the festive season even more aligned with our sustainable values.
Final thoughts
Making small changes in how we use and shop for materials can have a significant impact on the planet we are living on. With this list as a reference, you are encouraged to embark on a zero-waste journey, starting with the Christmas season.
