Our thinking

A waste-free Christmas

17 December, 2021

30% of our annual rubbish output is produced and discarded throughout the festive season In fact, Biffa estimates that 100 million bags of rubbish end up in landfill each Christmas. This Christmas, why don’t we try thinking a little differently?

Wrapping paper is essential to gifting but knowing that the amount of wrapping paper thrown away  could reach the moon if laid end to end, we reconsidered. We’ve been wrapping our gifts by reusing paper rather than buying new: newspapers or glossy magazines can look great, with reusable ribbon, or using the built in wrapping paper some brands such as Fatface have included in their shopping bags. An alternative, of course, is also reusable wrapping paper like Furishiki fabric. Better yet, Nudos, created with offcuts or deadstock fabric that otherwise would have gone to the bin.

The Royal Mail estimates that it delivers about 150 million cards during Christmas. Other estimates raise it to a billion, which would roughly be the equivalent of 33 million trees! For this Christmas, plantable cards seem like a double win: nothing is wasted and trees, vegetables and flowers are grown instead! We especially loved these plantable Christmas cards that will help you ensure no card goes to waste! And why not keep the cards you receive and cut them up for next year’s gift tags?

And finally, crackers, with their fire cracks, plastic toys that no one ever keeps, and glossy finish are particularly wasteful. So we loved it when Jessie told us about reusable and refillable cloth ones: they are beautiful, are great for more personal gifts, and everyone will get a laugh out of making the cracking noise themselves.

Christmas often means waste, but it doesn’t have to. Minor changes can make a big difference. What will you be swapping out this year?

By Marie Guérinet