How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint This Christmas

With the effects of climate change becoming increasingly evident around the globe each year, many people are beginning to look at ways to shrink their carbon footprint. Christmas tends to be a time when our focus shifts from such issues, but in reality, we often produce the most waste and follow the least sustainable practices during the festive season. Fortunately, you don't need to bog yourself down trying to find ways to have a more eco-conscious Christmas, as even a few minor adjustments can have an effect on the planet. More often than not, the most environmentally friendly approaches are also the most inexpensive, so it's a double win! Here are some ways in which you can enjoy a low-impact holiday period.

Be Mindful of How Much Wrapping Paper You Use

We all love giving and receiving beautifully wrapped gifts, but do you really need to adorn each item with bows, tags, and ribbons? It might look great, but these extra components usually go straight into the trash after the present has been unwrapped. Instead, stick to wrapping paper, using only as much as you need. Better still, look out for paper made from recyclable materials that can also be recycled. Steer clear of glossy or glittery options, as these generally can't be recycled.

Create New Outfits From Clothes You Already Own

There's no need to buy new clothes every Christmas, yet many people find themselves stocking up on multiple new outfits to wear throughout the holiday season. Chances are, most people have forgotten what you wore during previous years, so why not re-wear items you already own? Those of you who are feeling creative can mix and match pieces you've worn in the past and put them together in a different way. If you really want to spice up your Christmas wardrobe, check out your nearest thrift store or have a clothes swap with friends.

Avoid Buying and Preparing Too Much Food

Overindulging from time to time goes hand in hand with the Christmas celebrations, but that doesn't mean you need to overload on groceries. At this time of year, you'll more likely be eating a little more than you normally would, but unfortunately, a lot of food still ends up going to waste. Before you hit the grocery store, make a realistic list of everything you need. You may need to give this more time if you're hosting a large group, but in doing so, you'll make it easier to cut down on waste. If you find you still have lots of leftovers, freeze them or use them as part of other dishes to avoid throwing away good food.

Minimize Your Meat Intake

By now, most of us know that consuming too much meat isn't exactly the best for the planet. While there's no need to ditch the turkey, although meat-free dinners often have a much lower carbon footprint, consider reducing your meat intake in the weeks leading up to the holidays. On the day, you can cut back by picking just one type of meat and switching to plant-based gravies and stuffing. Opting for smaller portions of meat and loading up on more veggies is another simple swap.

Shop Locally Whenever Possible

In this digital age, it's often easiest to do most of our Christmas shopping online, but this year, make an effort to buy from local businesses instead. Not only is this an excellent way to support the economy in your town or city, but it's also much less damaging to the environment. Many smaller stores often have more ethical, transparent practices than larger corporations, and their products are less likely to have been shipped from further afield. 

Don't Let Your Recycling Habits Slip

Sorting through your trash and separating your recyclables from your non-recyclables certainly isn't the most exciting Yuletide activity! Nonetheless, it's easy to get complacent during the festivities, but keeping up with recycling over Christmas is just as important as it is at any other time of year. Between paper, cardboard, and glass bottles, we generally end up with more trash than usual in December.

Put Thought Into the Gifts You Buy

No matter how grateful you are for the gifts you get, there's likely been a few that you genuinely haven't used. Similarly, most of us have bought a present for someone that's probably still sitting in the box! We all love to surprise our loved ones at Christmas. However, unless you're sure the gift you've purchased is something they'll use, it might be best to ask them outright about what they want rather than letting a present go to waste.

Change Your Approach to Christmas Cards

Christmas cards have fizzled out over the years, but there are still many people who've kept up the tradition. If you're someone who gives cards to more than just your close family and friends or typically sends them by mail, try e-cards instead this year. This isn't the only way to make your Christmas cards more sustainable, as you can also work on buying recyclable cards or delivering them by hand.

Switch to LED Lights

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to make the celebrations a little more eco-friendly is to use LED lights rather than the traditional alternatives. LED bulbs use much less energy, have a longer lifespan, and omit fewer greenhouse gasses than their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts, which were previously the most popular types of lights. Because they require a lot less energy, LED lights are also a very economical option. Most Christmas lights can cause your electricity bills to shoot up, but you'll find LED bulbs to be much less impactful on your wallet.

A Few Changes Can Make This Christmas the Most Eco-Friendly Yet!

As you begin your Christmas preparations, keep these eco-friendly practices in mind. Making even a handful of tweaks to your usual habits is better than none at all, and you'll be surprised at how easy it is to change your ways.