Sustainable Christmas

Celebrating Christmas is great! However we do need to think about how we can both enjoy celebrating Christmas AND ensure we care for God’s creation. So here are 12 tips for celebrating Christmas sustainably...

1.     Gifts – if you are buying gifts for your loved ones, please consider buying something that will last, or consider giving them an experience instead.

2.    Shopping – we all do lots of this around this time of year. You do have power in how you choose to spend your money so think about maybe shopping locally which not only supports local businesses but also involves less mileage.

3.    Buy pre-loved items from charity shops or websites such as Vinted or Facebook marketplace if you can.

4.    Wrapping your gifts – choose recyclable wrapping paper or re-usable bags. Avoid the glittery, shiny stuff.

5.    Christmas trees – If you like a real one then think about buying one in a pot so it can be replanted or some places do trees that can be returned and replanted for next year. If you have a fake tree then keep using it for many years, keeping it out of landfill for as long as possible.

6.    Decorations – Try using lots of natural decorations made from plants, dried oranges, cardboard etc. Otherwise keep on using the decorations you have for as many years as possible.

7.    Christmas crackers – you can get recyclable ones but better still make your own or do something different at the dinner table such as a game, quiz or telling your own jokes... which will be better than the ones in crackers anyway!

8.    Christmas lights- make sure you have LED bulbs in your lights which use much less energy.

9.    Food – we love our Christmas food but about 4.2 million plates of Christmas dinner go in the bin each year! Please use your leftovers and think about eating less meat this year.

10.  Advent calendars – counting down to Christmas can be fun and even more so when you have re-usable advent calendars putting your own treats in the pockets or boxes that are brought out every year.

11.  Christmas Cards are a lovely way of staying in touch with friends and family. Try and avoid the glittery ones. Alternatively you could send an e card instead.

12. DO celebrate Christmas with our Church family by coming to the Christmas services. Worshipping, singing carols and being with others is very sustainable!