Tips for a plastic-free Christmas
With Christmas more or less cancelled last year, we are undoubtedly looking forward to going all-out this year with our celebrations. We have missed our traditions and are dreaming of how we can make up for our skipped year, to do it bigger and better! It’s easy to get wrapped up in it all and focus on having the best year ever, so I couldn’t help but pull together a few pointers of how to aim for a sustainably led Christmas, focusing on plastic free and eco - friendly.
During the pandemic, we realised the importance of our local producers and independent shop owners; they kept us going with supplies and also pivoted to deliver unexpected treats. If I can offer one piece of advice this Christmas it would be to keep shopping with independent local businesses. More often than not, they are the shops that are mindful in their packaging, supply chains and the produce that they stock. You are also helping many people like myself keep their dreams alive and bring diversity, energy and engagement to the high streets.
- Plan your Christmas menu around seasonal produce, and buy them from local farm shops, delis, farmers market and the loose section of the supermarket. I know it’s often easier to grab the plastic bag of veg, but often it’s too much, and not grown nearby. It’s a misconception that farm shop veg is more expensive, but often when you buy what you actually need, and because it’s grown down the road it is actually cheaper. I’ll also guarantee you that it will taste better, last longer and look far more appealing.
- Set some challenges with your friends and family. I think it’s always more fun, and actually easier to buy presents when you have a target in mind. Ideas like - only buy from local independent shops, or plastic free presents only. When you do it altogether, family members who don’t normally shop in those places discover the joy of shopping independently, without it feeling scary or a big task.
- Bring the outside in. Look around your garden and on walks for foliage to decorate the house with. With lots of brilliant guides on instagram + tik tok showing how easy it is to make wreaths, tree decorations and garlands - you’ll be an expert in no time!
- Get creative. Make your own wrapping paper, Christmas cards and gift cards. More often than not, this is where a lot of plastic is found, in the packaging of the essentials. If you don’t have the time or inspiration to DIY it then find some makers markets or refill shops; they are bound to be stocked with local entrepreneurial artists specialising in these.
- Be mindful with your purchases. It’s so easy to get carried away and caught up in it, sometimes you need a moment to think, do I really need this. When you step away, it often becomes clearer that actually you really don’t!