Throughout the year we do our best to live a sustainable lifestyle. From recycling to cutting back on the amount of electricity or fuel we use, we do what we can to help reduce our carbon footprint. Then Christmas comes along with all the lights and decorations and out goes our good intentions for an entire month, or more. This year, maybe it’s finally time to see what we can do to make it an eco-friendly Christmas, starting with all that décor.
Start with Solar Christmas Lights
Some families have done away with lighted exterior decorations altogether for both the cost and the toll on the environment. There are actually some very lovely exterior solar powered holiday lights on the market that stay lit for several hours. It may take shopping around a bit and reading a few reviews, but they are becoming more and more common as our awareness of sustainable living grows.
Eco Gifts for Friends and Family
One of the things you can do is help spread an awareness of what our planet is suffering. If you check out the best eco gifts on a buying guide like this one: goodthingsgifts.co.uk, you will be pleasantly surprised at all the products that make lovely gifts. Some of the best sustainable gifts UK families appreciate are those made from reclaimed plastic that would have been “ocean bound.” There are also eco-friendly toys for the kids which can be used as a fun teaching tool to help your children understand the importance of what sustainable living is all about.
Creative Use of the Oven
Quite often we take days before Christmas dinner to cook all the pies, breads, cookies and main dishes so that when the happy day arrives, we are free to sit down and enjoy. This year, maybe some of that time could be spent prepping dishes but not baking them right away. Cover them securely and refrigerate until you have a sufficient number to fit in your oven all at the same time. You will never guess just how much energy this saves and still enables you to comfortably enjoy your Christmas dinner without standing over the stove for the entire day.
Alternatives to Wrapping Paper
There are so many alternatives for gift wrapping paper to explore. One of the most creative ideas comes from families who like to recycle those large brown paper shopping bags. The kids love to open them up and then paint them with water colours, or brightly colour them with neon crayons. What a fun way to give ethical presents UK kids will love wrapping.
With a little thought and a big imagination, you really can make this an eco-friendly Christmas. Some families even use a sustainable Advent calendar where each day of Advent gives a sustainable activity for the day. It’s fun to think of all the ways you can use this season of gift giving to give something back to Planet Earth that has given us so much for so many years.
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