Five Ways to Have the Most Eco-friendly Christmas You’ve Ever Had

Although Christmas may be the most beautiful time of year, it has a significant impact on the world. The real cost of Merry Christmas can be catastrophic for the environment, as unwanted gifts, plastic decorations, and greeting cards all contribute to a large amount of landfill waste.

You can save the earth and still have a great time celebrating with a few smart decisions and simple substitutions. Continue reading to find out how you can have the most eco-friendly Christmas possible.

Five Ways to Have the Most Eco-Friendly Christmas Ever

• Make your Christmas lights more modern

You can make 2022 the year that you invest in LED fairy lights for your Christmas tree. LED bulbs are brighter than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they use less energy. This means they are better for the environment as well as your budget.

According to This is Money, 57,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved if every UK household switched just one string of traditional incandescent lights to an LED equivalent during the 12 days of Christmas.

You could also look into a plug-in thermostat to reduce your energy consumption. You can rest assured that your lights will turn off after a certain time.

• Buy an eco-friendly Christmas tree

Artificial trees can last longer than the living ones, but there is no way to recycle them in an eco-friendly way.

This means that even if your tree is re-used for many years, it will eventually end up in the landfill. A single acre of trees can provide enough oxygen for 16 people every day.

A real tree, unlike plastic artificial ones, can be recycled in an eco-friendly manner. You can either take it to your local Christmas tree recycling center or chip it and then compost it. Some municipalities even offer free collection in the new year.

For the best eco-friendly Christmas tree this year, get a real one.

• Take the wrap apart

Wrapping paper will be used for nearly 300,000 miles during the holiday season. Most of the wrapping paper can’t even be recycled. The sticky tape is another problem.

Do you want to be more involved in a zero waste initiative?

Take a look at the recycled and zero-waste Christmas wrapping paper options. You can also invest in reusable wrapping papers like Wrag Wrap.

• Gifts that are ethical and waste-free

The average UK household will spend $473.83 per year on gifts.

We’re apparently not doing it right. 54% of gifts are being returned before or after the New Year. It’s a complete waste.

For stylish and sustainable gifts for everyone, check out the massive annual Christmas gift guides.  It’s easy to use natural foliage and create decorations that aren’t made of plastic.

•  You can make your own decorations that are plastic-free

Plastic baubles or artificial wreaths are not the best options for updating your holiday decor. Instead, use foraged natural plants and cuttings to decorate your home.

You can also make stunning wreaths out of cuttings of holly and eucalyptus from your garden.

For Christmas tree ornaments, pinecones or dried citrus slices can be used.