Christmas is here and every year the quantity of waste associated with the season exacts a heavy toll on the environment. Food waste, decorations, wrapping paper and even Christmas cards all fall into this category. Imagine how much rubbish would be produced if you added food waste and Christmas cards to the roughly 100,000 tonnes of waste that was reportedly produced last Christmas, according to the Irish Times.

The following are 5 methods that will help you enjoy a more eco-friendly Christmas.

Get inventive with your wrapping paper:

Old newspapers, magazines and plain brown paper are just a few of the many types of paper you may use to make your own wrapping paper. By doing this, you can express your creativity while also saving money because you won't need to buy expensive wrapping paper that can't be recycled. 

Many of us are unaware of the fact that some rolls of wrapping paper cannot be recycled because they include foil, glitter or plastic. Wrapping paper should have a symbol to tell if it’s recyclable or not, but if you are in doubt you can also do the scrunch test - scrunch the paper in your hand and let it go. If the paper remains scrunched then it is recyclable but if it unfolds on its own accord then it likely contains elements that are not recyclable.

Avoid food waste:

Every year we become more conscious on how we cut down on food waste, but this is usually much more challenging around Christmas. Planning your meals will help you purchase much less when it comes to doing the food shop, but doing so can be challenging if you're hosting Christmas dinner or a delicious feast on St. Stephen's Day.

If you still find yourself with leftover food, look up some recipes to get inventive with what you have, you might discover your new favourite dish, and don’t forget to check use by dates and freeze anything that is approaching this date. There is also a fantastic app called Olio which is a food sharing platform which is accessible worldwide!

Become conscious of your energy consumption:

Everyone enjoys putting up their Christmas decorations and the atmosphere they create, especially the lights, but this year in particular we are conscious of the increase in the cost of electricity, which might have a great side effect - hear me out! 

It’s a simple one, but turning your Christmas lights off at night before you go to bed, or replacing them with low energy LED lights, is not only great for the environment but also great for your pocket!

Be creative with your Christmas cards:

You'll be sending Christmas cards to loved ones all through the holiday season, as is custom. I am aware that my family sends Christmas cards to distant relatives, friends abroad, as well as neighbours. 

This year, I would suggest using e-cards to spread the Christmas joy. Not only is this a great method to reduce waste from non-recyclable cards and envelopes, but also cuts down on postal costs and the emissions emitted from air post. If you want to stick to tradition and prefer to post cards, making your own Christmas cards is another option to reduce your environmental impact. Although purchasing Christmas cards is a terrific time-saver, making your own will significantly minimise the quantity of packing while also providing a festive activity for the whole family to enjoy.

Buy your gifts locally:

Since the pandemic I'm aware that many buy their gifts online to avoid crowds in stores or prefer the convenience of ordering online. Purchasing your gifts from local shops is not only sustainable but is also a great way to support your local economy. Doing your bit to cut down on deliveries will significantly help to lower greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. Additionally, gifts from local stores are often made locally, will last the test of time and have more of a sentimental impact. 

We hope that these eco-friendly suggestions will be useful to you during this holiday season. Even if you apply only one of these suggestions, you'll see a positive overall impact. Let us know through our social media outlets if you believe we've forgotten something that will encourage everyone to live more sustainably this Christmas.