Sustainability has thankfully become a more common place, and it’s no longer something that ‘hippies’ do. Sustainable living the rational way of thinking in order to save our planet and live the best lives possible. 

Christmas is a time when we produce so much waste and all for one day. Instead, why not try some eco-friendly changes, and here are a few to get you started. 

SHOP SMALL

Instead of doing all your shopping on Amazon or big branded stores, try shopping in smaller businesses. Using online sites such as Etsy, or safely exploring local shops in your town, look for gifts that way. Buying gifts from local creatives will support them directly and will be a unique gift as well. 

AVOID PLASTIC WRAPPING

Whilst they may look nice and beautiful under the tree, the plastic involved in wrapping is often not recyclable. A better alternative is to wrap your gifts in plain brown paper or newspaper. It may sound bland, but you can add personal decorations to give it a retro feeling. If this isn’t something you want, just reuse Christmas bags instead of buying new ones. 

AVOID PLASTIC PACKAGING

It’s normal to buy your loved ones shampoos and washes at Christmas, but it’s not always the best. Plastic bottles often come in excessive packaging and many parts of the gift cannot be recycled. Alternatives include hard soaps, hard deodorants or hard shampoos. Ones that come without plastic packaging but can look fantastic for gifts! 

DONATE UNWANTED GIFTS

Everyone is guilty of this, but it needs to be addressed. There’s always someone that gets you something boring for Christmas that doesn’t fit your style and you store it due to politeness. Declutter your belongings and get rid of the things you don’t need. Donate unwanted gifts, unused outfits or anything valued to charity to provide help for those who need it whilst recycling your gifts.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECORATIONS

This is both good for saving money, but also creating something sustainable. Create your own decorations with your friends and family, by using recyclable materials like tissue paper and eco-friendly glitter to make unique decorations. YouTube has some amazing tutorials to get you started. You’ll be able to pop on some classic tunes, whilst hanging out with your loved ones.

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Words by Charlie Vogelsang

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