With Christmas right around the corner it can be easy to get swept away in all the fun. But it's important to remember that it's possible to have a great Christmas and still be sustainable.

Christmas Tree – Real or Artificial? 

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, for most people the centrepiece is the tree. But which is best for the environment, an artificial tree or a real one? Nowadays you have a lot of options and quite a few factors need to be considered. 

If you want to have an artificial tree, make sure you buy one that is of high quality so that you can get lots of years of use out of it. It’s definitely not an environmentally friendly idea to buy a new artificial tree every year! 

If you feel like going down the real tree avenue, do a bit of research and make sure you buy your tree from a sustainably managed forest. (You can get one from a Forestry and Land Scotland forest, click here). Once you are finished with the tree, make sure to find a way to recycle it. Take a look at your local council’s advice on how to dispose of your tree. 

Or you could always just decorate your houseplants.  

Decorations 

If you’re looking to get some new decorations this year, consider having a look around the house and see what you can repurpose. If you have leftover wrapping paper, you could make some paper chains. Or take an orange,slice it up and bake it in a low oven to dry it out (around 120° for about an hour). Then hang it on the tree and you’ve got some pretty (and fragrant) new decorations.  

Of course, the best thing to do is take good care of the decorations you already own. Make sure to pack everything away carefully and store it safely. That way you can use the same decorations for years to come. 

Wrapping 

It can be easy to get swept away with all the glitter and sparkles when it comes to wrapping gifts. But it’s important to consider that many recycling centres won’t accept paper with glitter or foil on it. Look out for FSC approved paper as that is guaranteed to be recyclable. A quick way to test if your wrapping paper is recyclable is to scrunch it up into a ball. If it stays scrunched up, it’s likely to be recyclable but if it expands again, it’s likely to not be recyclable.   

Another great idea is to use some fabric instead of paper. Our Compliance Associate, Alan shared with us that his family have made some gift bags from scrap fabric to use for their Christmas gifts. And when they run out of fabric, they reuse paper shopping bags. 

Christmas Cards 

A lot of people no longer choose to send Christmas cards. But, if you do, keep an eye out for cards with the FSC mark. That means that they are made with sustainable paper and that they are recyclable. You can also find plantable Christmas cards. They come with seeds embedded in the paper so all you need to do is plant them.  

If the cards you receive are not recyclable, keep hold of them and cut them up to make some handmade decorations for next year. 

Cut food waste 

If you watch a lot of Christmas movies, you’ll be familiar with the image of the Christmas dinner table groaning under the weight of all the food. It really shouldn’t be like that. The most sustainable (and purse friendly) way to cook your Christmas dinner is to be mindful of how many you are feeding. Simple swaps such as buying loose veg instead of a bag or a turkey crown instead of a whole bird can add up. It’s OK to finish it all on the day, you don’t need to buy enough for days worth of leftovers. After all, there’s only so many turkey sandwiches we can handle! 

If you do find that you’ve bought too much, get in touch with your local food bank and see what they would be able to take off your hands. 

With all this in mind, we really do hope you have a holly, jolly (and sustainable) Christmas!