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Christmas is notoriously a time of year linked with over consumption and waste which becomes even more apparent when you look at some of the stats:<\/span><\/p>\n Looking at these points above, it\u2019s clear waste is generated from all aspects of Christmas, from decorations and food to gifts and packaging. <\/span>So to achieve a more sustainable Christmas needs efforts to be made all round, but don\u2019t worry we\u2019ve got suggestions of how to reduce your waste in all these areas.<\/span><\/p>\n Most wrapping paper is single-use and often unrecyclable due to the mix of materials used in its construction, the result is a bunch of wrapping with a fleeting lifespan that\u2019s destined for landfill. <\/span>But, there are better alternatives out there. Let\u2019s take a look at a few.<\/span><\/p>\n Reusing waste paper might not be the prettiest but it\u2019s for sure one of the lowest waste options. Giving material added lifespan that may otherwise be destined for landfill is a great way to reduce waste.<\/span><\/p>\n Many papers are suitable but some common options include:<\/span><\/p>\n Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that\u2019s used to wrap clothes, gifts and more. It\u2019s great as it makes use of material you may already have on hand and has the added benefit of looking pretty special too! <\/span>It does take a bit of practice but there\u2019s <\/span>plenty of handy tutorials out there<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/p>\n If<\/span> you have nothing suitable to hand to wrap presents with, consider buying materials with lower impact; reusable cloth options are great but not always easy to source.<\/span><\/p>\n Another good alternative comes in the form of recyclable paper (like brown packing paper), at least that way you can put the waste material to use.<\/span><\/p>\n Note: When it comes to wrapping any of the above options can be reused if you tie the gift together with a piece of string in place of difficult to remove sticky tape.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Christmas decorations are certainly another huge source of waste with tonnes of decorations being discarded annually. <\/span>Instead opt for using what you have or some of these great DIYs that are worth trying at home.<\/span><\/p>\n Nothing says Christmas more than some festive slices of dried orange dangled around the tree and fireplace.<\/span><\/p>\n They\u2019re also super easy to make:<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas DIY decorations don\u2019t get any easier than this foraged pinecone decoration:<\/span><\/p>\n Cranberry garlands are a great way to add a bit of colour to your tree without using plastic tinsel, they\u2019re also pretty easy to make:<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all received those awkward unwanted gifts on Christmas and while we can\u2019t stop your aunty from buying you those ugly socks we have got some suggestions for more sustainable gifting alternatives this season!<\/span><\/p>\n Gifting experiences is a great way to provide someone with a thoughtful gift without buying more stuff, some great options include:<\/span><\/p>\n Shopping for pre-loved items doesn\u2019t have to be a cop out, many places even sell unwanted new items that are worth saving from landfill. <\/span>If you\u2019ve got your eye on something for a gift this Christmas it\u2019s worth having a look on websites like depop and eBay to see if a decent second hand option isn\u2019t available first!<\/span><\/p>\n Some businesses are more deserving of your custom than others this Christmas, so before you go and buy all your gifts on Amazon consider giving makers, sustainable and local businesses your custom first.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few great options:<\/span><\/p>\n Before you accuse me of a scrooge for asking you to abstain from scoffing your faces all Christmas hear me out!<\/span><\/p>\n An eyewatering 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings, and 74 million mince pies get binned while still edible, causing almost 270,000 tons of food waste in total during this festive season. <\/span>Here\u2019s a few tips for reducing your food waste this festive season.<\/span><\/p>\n Planning is one of the keys to keeping your foodwaste under control this christmas, so before you head out and do your big Christmas shop, keep the following in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Sustainable wrapping<\/span><\/h2>\n
Reusing waste paper<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Furoshiki<\/span><\/h3>\n
Recyclable paper<\/span><\/h3>\n
Decorations<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sustainkent\/files\/2020\/12\/oranges.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDried oranges<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Simply pinecone decoration<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Cranberry garland<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Gifting<\/span><\/h2>\n
Experiences<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Pre-loved<\/span><\/h3>\n
Independent and sustainable<\/span><\/h3>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sustainkent\/files\/2020\/12\/soseas.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFood<\/span><\/h2>\n
Plan<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Get creative with leftovers<\/span><\/h3>\n