Festive Fun that doesn’t cost the Earth

Festive Fun that doesn’t cost the Earth. Christmas doesn’t have to be a costly burden, with a little effort and imagination we can have a waste free festive season, save money and protect the planet for future generations.
If it’s all about the tree
Do you already have a ‘fake-tree’ ? It could be more planet friendly to hold onto it for another year
(average 7 years and it could be carbon neutral). If it’s looking a little tired, how about sprucing it up
by adding some fresh greenery from the garden before you add home-made decorations. There is a
lovely tradition of threading pop-corn garlands for the tree, many people might remember sitting by
the TV making paper curls, or pressing the pastry cutter on satsuma peel to make star-shape
garlands that have a lovely aroma.

Keeping it real
If it has to be a real tree, did you know you can rent one which is returned to the ground in January ?
A living tree in your home will need special care and watering, as they go on to provide a habitat for
wildlife and capture carbon. With many people renting the same tree year after year, available trees
are often reserved in advance. When is ‘Fred-the-Fir arriving ? Where shall we put Bruce-the-Spruce
this year? Have a look on-line to see if you can find an open booking slot.

Re-think your lights
Check you have LED lights for your Christmas tree, they use less energy, last longer and look just as
good! Please do switch off your lights at night – it’s safer and won’t cost the earth. Try to choose
lights that have a plug not battery powered, but if you only have a battery powered item, make sure
to use rechargeable batteries (you can recharge them for other things too).

Give the gift of time together
Consider swapping a purchased gift and instead share experiences with loved ones. Lots of
organisations across Sussex have membership passes, for cinema, art galleries, historic homes,
wildlife parks, etc. Gifting an experience for your loved ones will help to reduce the demands for
physical resources, and avoid unwanted presents, so how about bringing people together again with
tickets to see a show, concert or special event?

Buying less means more
A more budget friendly alternative is to gift a homemade coupon book, maybe donating time to help
babysit, rustling up that special home-made meal, making a wildlife habitat in the garden, or a
promise to go on weekly walks in nature, even plan a day to visit a National Trust or Wildlife Trust
location for a Spring-time picnic. This will mean your gift lasts longer and creates something to look
forward to later in the year.

Alternatively, there are lots of local charities could really benefit from your monthly subscription,
instead of buying that daily take-away treat maybe contribute the money as a charitable gift for a
cause you know is close to the heart.

Ditch the disposables
Avoid single-use tablecloths and napkins. Use fabric versions which have a longer life than their
paper equivalents as you can wash and keep them for other special occasions. Lots of Sussex charity
shops have beautiful crockery and linens that great grandparents used with care. You could start a
tradition and create family heirlooms. Cranberry sauce or red wine stain ? Don’t worry with swift
action, the natural alternatives such as cold water with baking soda and white vinegar can help as
long as you don’t use a hot wash which will set the stain.

When crackers are a joke
As we know Christmas crackers can be great fun but few versions are recyclable, and often the toys
inside are made of plastic that is thrown away after use. Avoid glossy foil or metallic wrap and look
out for FSC-certified crackers which means the packaging is made from sustainably sourced paper
and card. Always check what’s inside a cracker to make sure it’s something people will reuse. If you
don’t think you need them this year, how about creating your own personalised festive favours for
the table, it could be a fun activity with kids in the kitchen and another family tradition in the
making.

Do let us know your ideas to reduce the festive footprint. Find us at Sussexgreenliving.org.uk or
on Facebook, Instagram

By Elle Runton