Caring for the environment is something that we always need to be aware of. Making sure that we do this all year around is essential if we are going to combat climate change, and Christmas is no exception.
At Christmas, there are lots of things that can be harmful to the planet, so if you are wanting to help the environment, here are some of the things that you can do this Christmas to reduce your carbon footprint and give the planet the gift that it really wants and needs…
Christmas Presents – Something that we spend a lot of time thinking about are buying Christmas gifts. However, many people tend to go overboard with this, not only putting themselves into debt, but also buying gifts that have a detrimental impact on the environment by ending up sitting in landfill.
This year, you can save money and the planet by buying fewer gifts, or how about making your own? Crochet blanket kits from somewhere like Wool Couture are a good way to get what you need to create the perfect gift for someone special and it won’t be costing the earth.
Wrapping – We all like to see beautifully presented gifts sat under the tree. However, when you are choosing to wrap gifts, try to reuse wrapping paper from previous gifts. You can also save packaging and decorate cardboard boxes to present the gifts without having to buy wrapping paper which is often difficult to recycle and unnecessary waste. Alternatively have a look at this guide to recyclable wrapping paper.
Brown paper and twine, decorated with festive plants is also a lovely way to present gifts as well as being better for the planet.
Food – So much food goes to waste over the Christmas period. We often have a tendency to buy more than we really need at this time of the year, but this is not only a problem for the planet but also for your purse too!
Make a list of the things that you actually need and stick to it. The shops are only closed for a day, so sticking to what you need for one day rather than buying a huge amount to last will also help to reduce the amount of food that is wasted.