20 tips for a sustainable Christmas
20 tips for a sustainable Christmas
Are you looking for tips on having a more sustainable Christmas this year? Making your Christmas more sustainable is easy with all the advice and suggestions from the Queen of Sustainability in Ireland, Pat Kane from Reuzi.
Pat says that there are lots of small, simple things we can do to make our Christmas more sustainable. We don’t have to make sweeping changes, but every little change makes a difference. Her top tip :
‘enjoy the time with loved ones as that will never go to waste’
Here are her recommendations for a more eco-friendly Christmas
Decorations:
1. Pat recommends using whatever you already have. Do not throw out old decorations to replace with new, sustainable ones. Just add to your existing decorations.
2. Get inspired by nature. Make decorations from what you find around you - branches, leaves, conkers and pine cones. Create a family tradition of making a Christmas wreath from greenery.
3. Try LED lights when your old lights give up the ghost. They last much longer than normal bulbs. Or use lights that require batteries but use rechargeable batteries (for everything -not just lights!)
4. Christmas trees - again, use what you have. If that’s an artificial tree, then mind it and it could last you for years. If you’re buying a new tree - consider a potted tree as the most sustainable option.
Some sustainable businesses to try
The Foliage Florist - creates beautiful festive arrangements from Wicklow-grown foliage
One More Thing - dried and preserved flowers and arrangements
LITT - long lasting LED lights for outdoors and indoors
ChristmasTree.ie - potted Christmas trees you can rent for the festive season
Sustainable Gift Wrapping and Christmas cards
As always, use up whatever you have already. If buying new gift wrap, steer clear of anything embellished or laminated as this type of paper cannot be recycled.
Save gift bags, plain bags or wine bags you receive throughout the year and use these at Christmas.
Try plain brown paper - get the children to draw on it for a special touch. Lilly Higgins has great ideas for recycling wrapping paper.
Use paper tape and salvaged ribbons to finish off your wrapping. Use twigs, pine cones and foliage instead of plastic coated bows.
With Christmas cards, stay away from the embellished cards as they cannot be recycled. Send a nice text or WhatsApp instead!
Avoid commercial Advent calendars which are about 70% packaging and 30% (if even!) chocolate. Try making your own using envelopes for the days of the month.
If you must send Christmas cards - check out some sustainable brands below.
Some sustainable businesses to try
Nadine Love Paper - sustainable Advent calenders, cards and wrapping
Pickled Pom Pom - cards, decorations and more in sustainable packaging (where possible)
Burren Flower Fairies - beautiful, Christmas cards in sustainable packaging
Sustainable Gifting at Christmas
Pat says ‘buy less and buy better’ at Christmas.
Look at charity shops or preloved for eco friendly gifts for children, for him or for her!
Ask your friends and relatives what they need rather than guessing and buying yet more socks/candles/toiletries.
Limit the quantity of gifts you buy and stop the ‘just in case’ gifts!
Try gifting jams, bakes and homemade gifts instead of commercially produced socks/candles/toiletries.
Some sustainable businesses to try
NCBI and St.Vincent de Paul- charity shops are a great place to shop
Thriftify - an Irish app that has oodles of great, pre-loved items for sale
The Christmas outfit
Do you really need something new to wear for Christmas day …really? Shop your wardrobe should be the first thing you do.
Borrow from family or friends - your sister might have the perfect jacket to wear over your dress from the summer or your friend has a bag that matches your shoes.
Swap clothes with family and friends - have a little clothes swap party.
Try renting an outfit for the day or a party you’re attending
Back to the charity shops for preloved finds.
Hand me downs for the kids is something we have always done in our family. It works brilliantly if you have cousins or friends with kids a year or two ahead or behind yours.
Sustainable CLOTHING Businesses in Ireland
1. Happy Days - clothes rental in Dublin
2. DesignerRoom.com - high end designer clothes rental in Dublin
3. Lovelythings.ie - kids pre-loved clothes
4. kind folk.ie - kids pre-loved clothing in Ireland