Have yourself an Environmentally Friendly Christmas (with our tips below); 

• Quality not quantity:  Just under half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don’t want and will never use. Buying fewer but better-quality gifts reduces the chances of gifts going to waste and can be better for your wallet too. Why not do a Secret Santa with your friends or family, avoiding novelty gifts that will inevitably get chucked away.

• Gift an experience:  Reduce demand for physical resources by gifting an experience to your loved ones instead. Whether it’s gifting your time or a pre-bought experience, it’s a great opportunity to bring people together and the memories made will be a gift that will last forever.

• Think about materials:  Look at the materials gifts are made from and keep sustainability in mind. Ensure wood and paper are made from recycled or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified materials, avoid single plastics items that can’t be recycled, and look for things like Organic-certified food and clothing. Buying second-hand items like vintage clothes, furniture, and refurbished technology, are also great ways to gift more sustainably.

• Remove packaging:  Reduce waste even further by buying gifts with little or no packaging. Sometimes shopping local can help with this, especially if you have a local refill shop. If packaging is unavoidable, opt for something plastic-free or made from recycled, or recyclable, materials.

• Test your wrapping skills: Look for cards and wrapping paper made from recycled or FSC-certified paper. Avoid plastic ribbon and tape, and foil-backed papers or those with glitter which aren’t recyclable. There are many tape-free wrapping techniques online to try.

• The gift of a better future:  If you’re struggling for a gift idea – why not support WWF’s work by choosing an animal adoption or another membership? The perfect gifts for nature and wildlife-lovers who want  to  do their bit for the environment including tackling climate change.

• Cut your food waste: Food production is the biggest cause of tropical deforestation. Try to cut any waste by planning ahead – be realistic about how much food you need and use up leftovers.  Leftover food may be unavoidable, but you can save it and enjoy it the next day by covering it with eco-friendly cling film alternatives such as Tupperware, foil or wax cloth covers!

• Eat More Plants: Eating more plant-based meals is good for you and the planet. The livestock industry alone generates nearly 15% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions and requires space and huge amounts of water and feed. Tesco’s plant-based ranges have seen a 50% increase in popularity, meaning you won’t miss out on the big day.

• Know your logos: When shopping for food, look for UK produce to reduce food miles (avoiding food that’s been flown around the world to get here), and sustainability certifications such as RSPO-certified palm oil and MSC-certified seafood.

• Eat seasonally: Buying locally produced products when they’re in season can ensure your shopping basket is more sustainable as it reduces the energy that might have been spent growing foods out of season (such as hot-house tomatoes) or food that have been shipped to the UK (such as asparagus from Peru in winter).

• Table Manners:  Be mindful that many Christmas crackers are not recyclable, and the toys inside are often made of plastic. Look out for FSC-certified crackers, or reusable DIY crackers that you can fill yourself with eco-friendly and (if you want to go the extra mile) personalised festive favours.

• Think about your lights: Use LED lights on your Christmas tree, they use less energy and look just as good. Most current tree lights for sale should be LED.

• Make your own decorations: Rather than buying new, you can upcycle old decorations or sew your own from spare material from around the house. We sell DIY Christmas decorations in our shop, which can make a great tree ornament and double-up as a present. They’re made from felt derived from recycled water bottles and the thread comes from plants!

• Don’t forget the tree!  If buying a plastic Christmas tree, make sure that you’re going to reuse it for at least 10 years, otherwise it would have been better to buy a living tree from a sustainable forest. If buying a real tree, make sure it’s FSC-certified (responsibly sourced).

• Dressing for the party season: This year, choose the sustainable option and try to use clothing that you already own! If you really can’t find anything to wear, try looking around second-hand shops for your new Christmas party outfit.

• Reconnect to nature: The festive season is all about spending time with friends and family. Try making one of your festive activities a walk around your local park or nature reserve, which is good for mental health and wellbeing. Winter is a great time to spot all sorts of over-wintering birds.

0845 431 0295

aimsconsultancy.co.uk