Make this Christmas your most eco-friendly one yet with our top tips for reducing waste, energy, and plastic through green swaps and homemade decorations.
If you’re not sure how to have an eco-friendly Christmas, read on for our top tips for a greener, more sustainable Christmas.
Try making your own festive decorations
Are your decorations looking a bit old and shabby? The winter landscape is dominated with reds and greens, so get out there for some natural decorations rather than buying new ones.
Sprigs of holly and fir, twigs and branches, mistletoe and pine cones make beautiful additions to your Christmas home. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own decorations!
Source an alternative to a real tree
When it comes to Christmas trees, working out how to have an eco-friendly Christmas can be tricky. Fake trees aren’t biodegradable and even real trees have their problems.
Avoid this moral quandary by making your own Christmas tree from found materials, or if you really can’t do without a live tree – you can try renting one to minimise your impact
Use proper crockery and cutlery
It’s that time of year when throw-away plates and plastic cups make an appearance.
Proper plates, with real cutlery and glasses, will not only make a classier get-together, but you’ll dramatically reduce your waste.
Modernise those tree lights
If you’re planning to light up that (hopefully homemade!) Christmas tree, then double-check that you’re using LED lights.
Those tinsel-collared lights you picked up on eBay may give your tree a fun vintage vibe, but the incandescent light bulbs will use far more energy than newer LED ones and won’t last as long.
Make the switch to LED to save energy – and money – this Christmas.
Give plastic free gifts or experiences
Don’t fill those stockings with plastic! What about reusable coffee cups or water bottles? Why not gift an experience day or a concert ticket?
If you need some extra ideas, check out our plastic free gifts blog.
Use up those leftovers
Christmas is a time for food, drink, and good times. Just be sure none of it goes to waste!
Buy what you need and turn those Christmas dinner leftovers into meals for the week.
Think about the gift wrap
Give your Christmas presents that nostalgic feel with recycled brown parcel paper tied in twine or cloth ribbon, and add some seasonal greenery. Use last year’s Christmas cards for tags. You will have beautifully wrapped gifts and be saving the environment. Shredded paper is a great alternative to polystyrene to protect breakables. Another option is to wrap presents in once-loved fabric.
Make your own Christmas crackers
Avoid shop-bought crackers with cheap, tacky plastic gifts that will end up in landfill.
Follow these instructions for making your own eco crackers (including where to get the snaps!).
Don’t get caught short with your Modern Milkman Delivery
Remember to check your delivery days over Christmas to ensure that you have enough supplies over Christmas and the New Year and avoid the need for those shop-bought plastic bottles. You can amend your order or create a ‘one-time order’ easily on the app, to accommodate for the holiday season and all those extra visitors.
How to have an eco-friendly Christmas with our milkround
Your local milkie may not have a big white beard or a belly full of biscuits, but they work just as hard to make your Christmas special! Now that you know how to have an eco-friendly Christmas, there’s only one thing left to do. Join our milkround! Get started now by signing up, placing at least one repeat order and choosing your delivery days! We drop our range of deliciously fresh groceries and household essentials on your doorstep up to three times a week. Whether you’re relying on our coffee subscription and milk delivery to keep you warm on the cold winter mornings or need a veg delivery just in time for the big day, we make every delivery day feel like Christmas.
