Your Guide to Going Green this Christmas
Welcome to your guide to going green this Christmas. We’re going to have a quick run-down of a few options for how to make your festive period a little friendlier to the environment this year. Here are 5 tips to get the ball rolling on your Christmas this year.
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Soy Candles
Christmas is definitely the perfect time to be cracking out the candlelight. Most people like having candle-based centrepieces on their dining tables, and candles in the window are a common setup as well. The problem is, paraffin candles – the kind which most people have – are no good for the environment.
There are much more natural solutions that are available which don’t negatively impact the planet. Soy wax candles (which are also suitable for vegans) and beeswax candles are a brilliant alternative. They’re organic; you can still get them in a massive variety of scents, colours, and sizes and they don’t burn any differently to paraffin candles. They’ll make an excellent gift for someone with a penchant for romantic lighting too!
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Responsible Feasting
Everyone knows that Christmas has become a time for decadent feasting, with people indulging over the holiday period like there’s no tomorrow. This is all well and good, but you need to make sure you’re buying food responsibly. If you’re eating meat, try to source it from a local farm shop.
Locally owned places can guarantee you aren’t supporting industrial farming, giving you quality meat that supports local business. Furthermore, ensure you aren’t buying too much food for your needs. It’s difficult to establish how much food you’ll need – especially since Christmastime is usually when there are a lot of guests over. This year, however, it should be easier to buy food locally, in sensible amounts.
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LED Lifesavers
Christmas lighting is a part of most people’s homes during the festive season. If you’re like most people, you likely have a box of all your Christmas decorations and pull out the same lights every year. Your Christmas lights are definitely due to be replaced if this is the case. Halogen lights are not only a safety risk – with their heat posing serious fire risks – but they also use significantly more energy than LEDs.
Utilising LEDs and a timer can ensure that you’re saving money on your electricity bill, whilst also making sure your home is a safe place to be this Christmas. Using fewer lights than you have done in previous years is another way to make sure your Christmas celebrations are kinder to the planet.
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Tree Rental
A lot of people believe that faux Christmas trees are better for the planet than using real fir trees. The reality, however, is that you’d have to use your faux Christmas tree for many, many years before it became a more eco-friendly alternative to the real thing. Nobody is about to suggest that you cut out Christmas trees all together this year, however.
Instead, you can now rent real Christmas trees. Rather than having a tree for a month or two, only to throw it out in January to serve no further purpose, there are companies which will deliver a genuine fir tree to you in December. In exchange, you tend to the tree throughout December, and they collect it from you in the new year and plant it again in January – brilliant!
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Sensible Shopping
Although we know that not every gift has to be bought, and many gifts can be homemade, or simply experiences and events rather than disposable things, sometimes we all need to be splashing the cash on a physical object for a Christmas gift. Buying second hand where possible is a great way to reuse and recycle.
Jewellery, for example, is another popular Christmas gift. An antique or vintage emerald ring, for example, is much better for the planet than buying brand new. Without supporting the sometimes controversial gemstone trade, you can buy something beautiful from a local business that has all the beauty of a luxury gift. It’s usually cheaper as well!
So there you have it, just a few of the ways you can make your Christmas that bit better for the planet – as well as your pocket. What other ideas can you think of for keeping the festive season lean and green this year?
Read more posts about Green Living and Christmas here.
