With chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose, your last concern is probably going to be whether the wrapping paper, containing your third pair of socks, can be recycled or not. But implementing a few minor changes to your Christmas, can benefit the environment immensely.
During the festive season, an additional 3 million tonnes of waste is generated by households in England, with a whopping 227,000 miles of wrapping paper binned, rather than recycled annually. The equivalent of 33 million trees makes it into the bin in the form of Christmas cards as well.
So, what can you do?
Here are our top 7 tips for a more sustainable festive season…
1. Most wrapping paper can be recycled unless it is shiny, metallic, or glittery. To check this, scrunch up the paper; if it stays in a ball shape, it should be recyclable.
2. The same goes for cards. Recycle or reuse cards by cutting them up as gift tags for next year.
3. Put money back into your area by shopping locally. Rather than giving even more money to larger corporations, buy a gift or voucher from your local shops.
4. Avoid next day delivery. Companies will send out delivery trucks that are not at maximum capacity to get your order out quickly. Plan ahead!
5. If you have ordered something, reuse the delivery boxes. Wrap one big box, rather than lots of little ones by putting stocking fillers inside! Fewer paper cuts and sticky tape mishaps for you!
6. Make something. We are not saying you have to be Picasso but cut up an old sweatshirt for the dog or print and frame your favourite photo of your parents. It is the thought that matters.
7. Regift your unloved items to a better home. Remember that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The practice of becoming more sustainable need not stop with this Christmas or New Year’s. Simply trying to be more conscientious with purchases and the waste you create, will have a massively positive impact on the ever-worsening environment.
Featured Image: Emily Dennison Emerging artist Caoilfhionn (pronounced Keelin) Rose is a singer, songwriter, producer and rising star from Manchester’s very own Didsbury Village. On the 9th of April Caoilfhionn released her anticipated sophomore album Truly with Gondwana Records, her second album after her debut Awaken. Rose has a talented way of blending storytelling with…
Featured Image: Evan Wilson Hyperdawn, comprised of Michael Cutting and Vitalija Glovackyte, first crossed paths in university. After working as solo musicians, they eventually joined forces as a duo based on experimentalism. As a result, their unique sound is a genre-defying blend of pop, smooth synth, and electronic sounds. The Manchester-based musicians use various unconventional…
Featured Image: Joel Schaegis Liverpudlian goddess of alt-pop Natalie McCool was first inspired by her father as a child to embark on her musical journey. After hearing him play the guitar when she went to bed, the sounds of old blues songs encouraged her to pick up the instrument herself. Thus, sparked the beginning of…
Featured Image: “The deer whisperer. 🐐🐾🐾🐐” by gusdiaz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Expelling darkness, I seek light, The walls vibrate, earth cascades to the ground, The duality of trepidation and thrill, Emerging, slowly, though quicker than sound. The clouds separate into cotton wool balls of whiteness, The promise of light captures me wholly, The hairs on my…
Leave a reply