Christmas is my favourite time of the year. Eating good food, spending time with loved ones, and all the traditions that the festive season brings are some of my fondest memories. As a PhD student in Environmental Science, I am constantly aware of how my everyday choices - what I eat, what I wear - have consequences for the environment. I try to live my life in a way that is aware of theses consequences – and Christmas time is no exception.

With climate change and COP26 being prominent in news cycles over the last couple of months, many people are also becoming more aware of how their choices impact the environment. For those who celebrate Christmas, this time of year can pose challenges of how to celebrate our traditions, whilst being mindful of minimising environmental impact. Whether its decorations, certain foods, or gifts – each choice has implications.

Each year, the average UK household spends 29% more in December than other months of the year, almost £740. The UK creates 30% more waste than usual over Christmas, with 1 in 4 households expecting to create 5 or more bags of rubbish, and 227,000 miles of wrapping paper go to waste each Christmas.

Preparing for Christmas can be an overwhelming, and sometimes monumental, task - with concerns on costs of affording gifts, potential travel to visit loved ones, and sometimes just trying to get through it. As well as this, with the uncertainty around restrictions at Christmas building with the ongoing COVID-19 situation this year, and the desire to make up for not seeing family or celebrating last year, there seems to be more anxiety and pressure surrounding the festivities than ever.

In this blog, I have collated some ideas to help limit impacts and enjoy the festivities - whilst making it slightly easier to be mindful of the environment.

Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels

Gift-Giving – a central part of the festive period

Buying presents for loved ones can be an overwhelming task, with seemingly unlimited options, varying prices, and multiple avenues of purchasing. Keeping the environment in mind whilst doing your Christmas shopping can lead to more sensible options that recipients will appreciate, that won’t necessary break the bank.

Perhaps one of the most obvious and viable ways to prevent excess stuff this Christmas, is to simply buy less, and ensure that your gift is wanted or needed. We all have likely received something that goes thrown in a cupboard and never used, or used once and put back in the box because it’s ‘not really me’. Considering the longevity and the amount of use of a gift can lower its impact, it can keep products out of land fill, as well as making a more meaningful gift for who you are buying for. Don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for ideas! And consider doing “secret Santa” for your group of friends, buying one gift instead of 5 or 6 will help reduce waste and cut the costs.

Buying local is another way to improve your impact this Christmas. This allows money to stay in the local economy, directly supporting local businesses and strengthening the community, as well as helping create and retain valuable jobs. Products are usually created with more care, can be more unique or represent the local area. (For those local to the Lancaster area, check out this directory of local businesses here!)

Another idea is to shop second hand, giving products a new lease of life helps the environment through keeping items out of landfill. The rise of the circular economy and upcycling has led to a number of ways to find second hand items, from charity shops on the high street, to online shops such as Etsy, Oxfam online, Re-Fashion, E-bay or even Facebook Market place. Regifting is also an option, taking those unwanted gifts you may have received on previous occasions and giving them a new lease of life where they will be used and appreciated.

And finally – watch the wrapping paper! Opt for recyclable options, glitter free or simply brown paper and natural twine.

The Tree – Real or Artificial?

For me, nothing beats the smell of a real Christmas Tree in the living room this time of year. In environmental circles, there are continuous debates on the environmental impact of real vs fake trees at Christmas time. According to Zero Waste Scotland, a real tree is more eco-friendly on a one off basis, if disposed of correctly through wood chippings. Locally grown real trees have less emissions from transport for example, as well as capturing carbon and providing a habitat for wildlife in the 10-12 years they grown. A well looked after artificial tree, can offset its higher carbon footprint if used for 10 or more years, and are therefore more cost effective. Artificial trees in contrast aren’t as recyclable as they tend to be made up of many different materials, but they do tend to be more expensive.

Tips on choosing a real and sustainable tree, with more info on the debate, can be found here. For the researchers among us, a detailed Life Cycle assessment of Real and Artificial trees might be of interest!

Christmas Dinner – with all the trimmings!

Whatever you decide to eat this Christmas day, similar principles for gift-buying can apply. Buy as much as you can locally, from farmers markets to reduce the environmental impact of food miles, opt for loose vegetables to avoid waste, and buy organically if you are able to. Families in the UK waste up to 30% more food than the rest of the year at Christmas, and more than 64 million Christmas dinners go uneaten every year. Plan ahead what meals you will need to cook and for how many people, so you buy as much as you need. And if you do cook too much, ensure to eat the leftovers to reduce your food waste, or freeze meals to be eaten at a later date.

Being mindful of the environment this Christmas doesn’t have to add unnecessary stress to the festive period. Remembering the key tips, such as shopping locally as much as you can, planning what you need in advance and limiting waste across all the different aspects of Christmas, can really reduce the environmental impact. Considering the longevity of gifts or decorations, and the numbers of people catering for whilst planning can also really benefit. And whatever this Christmas brings, perhaps the most important thing to be mindful of is each other, and appreciating what and who we have around us.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.