A sustainable Christmas

Tips to try for reducing your environmental impact this Christmas

Gift bags may contain non-paper content so it is best to use them again and again. If you use gift bags, attach a tag that says “please reuse me”. Gift bags can also be donated to local charity shops for resale if you have lots of them in your cupboard.
Use cloth gift bags.
New tea towels are useful items for wrapping and have the added bonus of making the wrapping a gift as well.
Wrap using a length of fabric or a scarf. https://www.fabartdiy.com/13-scarf-folding-ways-for-gift-wrapping/
Use recycled brown paper (or newspaper) to wrap your gifts. Use potato stamps (and natural inks) to decorate your paper.
Cut old Christmas cards into new gift tags
Make bows out of old magazines (cut them up – link below) http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-gift-bow-from-magazine-page.html

Make natural decorations from pinecones, evergreen boughs or holly
https://www.hedgerow-harvest.com/2015/12/04/foraging-for-christmas/
Go through all your Christmas decorations. Do you have some you never use, storing year after year? Use them to decorate your wreath. Or why not pass them on to someone else who could use and enjoy them (or to a charity shop)
Make edible Christmas decorations (cookies, gingerbread, etc) https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/decoration

Give the gift of time or help arrange an experience. Write up simple “Gift certificate for…(mowing the lawn, baking a cake, babysitting, walking a dog, making a meal, a trip to the cinema) to be redeemed during the year. Make sure the recipient arranges a date to redeem your gift certificate!
Think about where the presents you buy have come from and how far you have to travel to purchase them. Could you buy from local shops on the high street, or could you buy from a small business that produces things locally?
Purchase Fairtrade

Hold a gift swap with friends and family. Gather together new items you have been given (or purchased yourself) and no longer want. At a recent gift swap one of our team gave away candles, Christmas-themed jewellery, a cool bag and a silicone baking spatula. In return she received a bath bomb, sun cream, moisturiser, hand cream, earrings and a mug.

8 million Christmas trees are sold in the UK

Tree rental – look for FSC or Soil Association certification
Grow your own – a non-conifer one with roots (holly, apple, pear, bay, Japanese maple) or a large indoor plant (drape with fairy lights)
Artificial – use it as long as possible. If you want to acquire a new to you one, look on Freegle. Issue of disposal of synthetic components
Real tree – send for chipping at your local Council (used for bark mulch etc)