In this post we take a look at some of the ways that you can have a greener Christmas. 

Buying your presents

What and how we buy matters. Think about the amount of packaging, the companies you buy from and make sure your gifts don’t cost the earth.

• When researching gifts online, try the non-for-profit search engine Ecosia. All their profits are used for climate action, with at least 80% financing tree-planting projects around the world. Their solar panels produce enough energy to power your searches twice over, meaning more renewables (and fewer fossil fuels) in the energy grid.
• Go for quality not quantity. Over half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don't want at Christmas. When buying gifts think: less but better, putting the time into picking a quality item that will last a long time. This reduces the chances of gifts going to waste and can be better for your wallet! Alternatively, you could try a family Secret Santa which means you don't have to buy for everyone.

Wrapping your presents

We all want the presents we give to look attractive (although some of us are better at the skill of wrapping than others!) but what we use to wrap our presents is also important.

  • Lots of wrapping paper can’t be recycled. Plastic, foil and glitter are big problems when it comes to recycling. If when you scrunch it up it springs back, it isn’t recyclable. Look for non-glossy paper that feels like paper. Recyclable brown paper is also a good option and if you saved last year’s Christmas cards you can use them to make the tags to bring some colour to your wrapped present.

  • Ditch the sellotape – sticky tape can’t be recycled. Look out for biodegradable paper tape, some companies even sell special festive designs.

Food

Meals over the festive season bring people together and are a chance to spend time with family and friends. There are lots of things you can do to make your meals more sustainable.

• Buy locally produced, seasonal products. This reduces the energy spent growing foods out of season or shipping food to the UK. Eating with the seasons is also a great way of supporting local farmers.
• If you want to go one step further, why not try a vegetarian Christmas meal? Eating more plant-based meals is good for you and the planet. A high-meat diet causes environmental problems, such as overgrazing of land, pollution, or the intensive use of water or fossil fuels. If you do eat meat, try and make sure it’s free-range or organic, and buy it from a local farmer or independent retailer.

Nature

Getting outside is good for us and gives us a chance to enjoy God’s creation. We can also help nature by providing food and shelter.

• Reconnect to nature: for many of us the festive season is about spending time with friends and family. Try making one of your festive activities a walk around your local park or nature reserve. Winter is a great time to spot all sorts of over-wintering birds.
• Look after wildlife this Christmas. Resist the urge to sweep away leaves and other debris from your garden as many small mammals use them to keep warm. Set up a bird table and put out high-fat foods (sunflower seeds, peanuts, bird feed) for robins and other garden birds to keep them warm during the long nights.

Green Christmas blog round up

Want even more inspiration or information about the benefits of going green at Christmas?

• Our twelve tips for a greener Christmas (A Rocha UK)
• Ideas for a Greener Christmas (A Rocha UK)
• Top tips for a sustainable Christmas (WWF)
• 21 eco-friendly Christmas tips (Friends of the Earth)
• 16 tips for a greener Christmas (The Eden Project)
• How to have an eco-Christmas (The Wildlife Trusts)
• 10 green acts of Christmas kindness (CPRE, the countryside charity)
• Christmas, but make it eco: our tips to make your holiday season greener (CPRE, the countryside charity)
• Sustainable Christmas ideas: 13 ways to make this yuletide greener (Positive.News)