7 easy methods to have an eco-friendly Christmas

It’s simple to get caught up within the shimmer and sparkle of Christmas — and who can blame any of us for indulging in some festive cheer after the previous couple of months? However Christmas preparations needn’t price the Earth (and I imply that in essentially the most literal approach). I’m positive there are many methods to have a extra eco-friendly Christmas, however listed below are a number of of my favorite and most simply achieved for starters…

Reused or repurposed wrapping paper

Gosh, certainly wrapping paper is likely one of the worst types of single-use paper wastage? There’s a straightforward approach spherical that although — don’t chuck it out!

I bear in mind childhood Christmas’ the place I might watch my grandmother painstakingly take away the sticky tape from the sides of her items, fastidiously unfold the paper from the current, then re-fold it right into a neat rectangle and place it preciously into her dressing robe pocket earlier than even taking a correct take a look at what she’d simply unwrapped…

These days, I’ve inherited that type fully. And sure, the neatly folded reward wrap from presents acquired shall be re-used once more subsequent 12 months!

If, in contrast to me, you haven’t but acquired a stack of wrapping paper for reuse as plentiful because the plastic bag pile stuffed into many a kitchen drawer throughout the nation, then I might extremely advocate repurposing: previous newspapers, out-dated street maps, journal pages, used colouring guide pages* all make for kooky and inventive wrapping paper alternate options. The extra tailor-made and private to the gift-receiver, the higher.

*(I do know you hear me on this fellow dad and mom; a good way to present these accomplished and in any other case now-useless colouring books a second life, whereas enormously pleasing grandparents who admire the creative flare of their younger relations).

Do-it-yourself reward tags

I can by no means fairly consider it after I see plastic-wrapped bundles of reward tags hanging up in shops. There actually isn’t any want.

If writing in pen instantly onto your wrapped reward merely is not going to suffice, or including an additional strip of wrapping paper on high together with your message on the reverse facet in an impossibility; then it’s time to get artful.

Rising up, my mum at all times saved the earlier 12 months’s Christmas playing cards, in order that we might lower up the entrance picture the next 12 months, and switch it right into a festive-themed reward tag.

While I’ll be doing the identical once more this 12 months, I have to admit, I’ve widened my scope, and likewise lengthen do-it-yourself tags to birthdays, Mom’s Day and just about every other gift-giving event; so these days I see a present tag in any first rate piece of discarded card. Fragrance bottles, meals packaging, cereal packing containers, you identify it!

Eco-friendly Christmas tree ornaments

Though many people use the identical Christmas tree ornaments 12 months after 12 months, the outlets at all times appear to be stuffed with brightly packaged boxed units and and overpriced single items — begging the query: do individuals actually throwaway their tree ornaments on the finish of the festive interval?

I perceive the odd damaged bauble right here and there; however annual overhauls and meticulous color scheme modifications appear worryingly wasteful to me.

If, like me, you’re a little on the sentimental facet nevertheless, and need to mark the 12 months in Christmas’ to come back (in my case, it’s the primary 12 months my 3-year-old has been in a position to actively beautify the tree with us, and that feels moderately particular) — do-it-yourself salt dough decorations are tons of enjoyable and plastic-free.

Salt dough decorations are tremendous simple to make, and may be painted or embellished in whichever personalised approach you select.

There are a selection of easy salt dough recipes obtainable on-line, however I discovered this one from Messy Little Monster weblog fairly simple and simple to make use of.

Recycled room decs

This brings again fond reminiscences of constructing paper chains in school to brighten the school rooms and indulge within the festive spirit (and naturally it will imply the tip of time period was nearing and the Christmas holidays have been in sight!).

I’ve discovered this to be a enjoyable exercise with my kids and a good way to re-use cardboard cereal and meals packaging, which is helpfully adorned with Christmasy patterns and winter version designs in the mean time. Successful all spherical!

Reusable Creation calendar

Okay, so per week into December it might be a bit late to start out on this one; however if you happen to’re the thrifty sort, now is a good time to choose up reusable creation calendars at discounted costs to place away till subsequent 12 months.

Round this time final 12 months I picked up this stunning star-shaped creation calendar secondhand (apparently it used to accommodate perfumes) and this 12 months it’s been put to good use providing each day picket toys and treats to my 20-month-old son.

What’s extra, it will positively be reused 12 months after 12 months for all method of toys and treats by way of the ages and phases of childhood — and past.

I’ve seen numerous these obtainable on-line; on websites resembling eBay and Etsy, they usually typically seem in backyard centres and charity outlets as official ranges this time of 12 months.

I positively assume they’re well worth the funding over throw away calendars with plastic chocolate trays (in truth, I’ll be choosing up one other one for our household this 12 months too!).

DIY eco-friendly Christmas crackers

A few years in the past I learn that 154,000,000 items of plastic tat from crackers will find yourself in landfill or our oceans annually from the UK alone. That’s completely loopy!

Since studying that statistic, my household (led by pretty mom) have made the swap to do-it-yourself crackers.

Beforehand, we used an internet step-by-step information from thoroughlymoderngrandma.com, however this 12 months we have been capable of finding some make your individual / fill your individual cracker units at The Works for simply £3.

The wonderful thing about do-it-yourself crackers is that you just get to go personalised with the items inside — which means they will truly be helpful! Picket toys, beaded jewelry, twig pencils, and so on. shall be discovering their approach into the centre of our eco-friendly Christmas crackers.

Do-it-yourself candles

My latest eco-project is to make do-it-yourself vegan, non-toxic candles in re-used tins. These ones use vegetable wax and 100% cotton threads for wick (plaited and dipped in vegetable oil to assist them burn brighter).

Okay, so that they might not be the prettiest to have a look at, however they’re working for me (clearly I nonetheless want to chop the wick on the pink one; however how else was I imagined to reveal their homemade-ness?!).

I discovered numerous good sources on-line for making non-toxic candles — one thing I’ve develop into extra captivated with since studying that almost all shop-bought candles include paraffin wax (until in any other case said) that pollutes indoor air with carcinogens resembling benzene and toluene, additionally discovered within the exhausts of diesel engines!

Maybe much more shockingly, sure candle wicks are made utilizing heavy metals resembling lead; pollution that are additionally emitted upon burning.

Do-it-yourself candles positively take essentially the most planning and funding in sources of something on this record, however simply the thought of what we could in any other case be permitting into our air house on this 12 months of face masks and Covid coughs is definitely sufficient to make it price it.

Veganfoodandliving.com is a good place to discover a full information to vegan, non-toxic candle making.