5 Ways to Celebrate a Sustainable Christmas

Here at Wave, we are here to help you celebrate responsibly this festive season! We want to help you make eco-conscious choices that make a difference for our planet, whilst still spreading the Christmas cheer! 

Wrap Up Green

In the UK alone, we use upwards of 250,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, which equates to 108 million rolls of wrapping waste. So this year why not embrace eco-friendly wrapping alternatives, such as recyclable brown paper, reusable fabric or old newspapers. You can also reuse ribbons and use natural elements such as twine and dried flowers/ shrubbery for further decoration. Top tip- use paper tape instead of sellotape! 

Deck the Halls Sustainably

Each Christmas, 12,500 tonnes of Christmas decorations are discarded in landfills, which includes over 68,000 miles of Christmas lights. So why not go for a personal touch this year, creating DIY ornaments using recycled materials or buy second hand decorations to ensure their use until the end of their life cycle. And make sure to opt for LED lights to consume less energy! 

Gifting shouldn’t Cost the Earth

It is estimated that approximately £42 million of unwanted Christmas presents end up in landfill each year. That is a staggering amount of waste! To minimise this consider gifting homemade treats, locally crafted items or gifting experiences instead of presents. You can also opt to support sustainable brands and those committed to environmental initiatives. 

Sustainable Festive Feast

Each Christmas in the UK up to seven million tonnes of food ends up in the bin. We urge you to only buy what you need and when buying, opt for locally sourced ingredients to reduce your carbon footprint and support your community. And why not try to incorporate plant based meals into your festive menu as well, to further reduce your impact on the environment. 

Earth Friendly Festive Fashion

In 2019, it was widely cited that 95% of Christmas jumpers on sale that year were made with plastic, directly contributing to our plastic pollution problem. So this year re-wear or buy second hand when being invited to the inevitable work Christmas jumper lunch… Rewearing outfits can also help minimise your impact on the planet as the festive season can promote consumerism and the need to buy plastic based outfits (sequins/glitter.) 

By incorporating these simple yet impactful practices into our festivities, we can minimise our impact on the environment whilst still celebrating fully. So this Christmas, celebrate with a conscious spirit and a commitment to sustainability!