Top Ten Tips for a Green Christmas

Green Reviews, www.greenreviews.co.uk, is a new website which offers tips and advice on eco-friendly products and living like a green machine! I look forward to them branching into beauty and food as I think it's the small lifestyle changes that really make a difference. Although with only 10 days until Christmas Eve, I thought I'd share their recent top ten tips on wishing for a green, not white, Christmas...

 

1. Choose a Christmas tree with roots so it can be replanted

Just one acre of real Christmas trees can help remove 13 tonnes of airborne pollutants each year. Rather than buying an artificial tree this year, buy a real tree with roots. After Christmas you can replant it in your garden and it could even be used again the next year. If you can’t find a tree with roots take it to a local recycling centre when finished with it where it can be chipped for mulch.

2. Low power Christmas lights with timers

Lighting accounts for around 15% of household electricity. Switching your Christmas lights to LEDs can knock lots off your energy bill as LEDs are 90% more efficient than incandescent lighting. LEDs are safer as well as they won’t overheat, lowering the risk of fire. They last about 30x longer than traditional Christmas lights and if one bulb goes the rest will still work. Setting them on timers will save energy by ensuring you only have them on when they need to be.

  
3. Recycled wrapping paper
Around 85 square kilometres of wrapping paper will end up in our rubbish bins this Christmas. Where possible used recycled wrapping paper and when on the receiving end, make sure you are careful when unwrapping presents so you can fold away and save for next year. When giving, use only a small amount of tape to make it easy for receivers to recycle as well.

4. Eco-friendly Christmas cards
An estimated 1.7 billion Christmas cards are sent in the UK each year, this is the equivalent of 200,000 trees! Try making your own or sending recycled Christmas cards this year, and after Christmas Day take all your cards to a recycling point. Even better, how about sending an e-card? This reduces landfill waste and is a fun and eco-friendly way to spread the Christmas cheer.

5. Decorate your home with natural materials
Rather than spending money on expensive artificial Christmas decorations why not let nature decorate your home or use recycled materials. Try decking your halls with real holly and ivy or have that Christmas kiss under some real mistletoe. Adorning your tree with homemade decorations is not only eco-friendly and green but is a great way to involve the whole family in a creative activity and ignite that Christmas spirit.

6. Organic turkey and vegetables
Try buying your Christmas dinner from local farmers markets. Locally-reared organic turkeys will not only be tastier and fresher but will reduce food miles and CO2 emissions. Supporting local farmers is far cheaper than buying at the supermarket and you’ll be helping to boost your local economy in the process.
 
7. Rechargeable batteries
UK families get though millions of batteries at Christmas time. Unfortunately, batteries are very difficult to recycle as they contain toxic chemicals and do not biodegrade. Switching to rechargeable batteries will not only mean less batteries going to landfill but will also save you money in the long run.

8. Buy sustainable/charity gifts
Why not buy a gift that gives back this Christmas? Some great present ideas that help to make a difference include bicycles, solar gadgets and perhaps a Christmas jumper to encourage the receiver to turn down their heating. Charities such as Trees for Cities offer gift donations which allow trees to be planted on city streets. If you receive a present that you do not want consider giving it to a charity who will be delighted to receive them.

9. Spend Christmas at home
Rather than driving all those miles to see the relatives this Christmas, why not spend Christmas at home? You avoid all the emissions caused by travelling and you can still catch up with the family through Skype on Christmas Day.

10. Use candles to decorate the home
Decorating your house with candles is the ideal way to create a perfect festive atmosphere. If you forego the electric light bulb and opt for candles for a few hours you could drastically reduce your energy usage this Christmas. Soy or beeswax candles are the best eco-friendly options as they are smoke-free and biodegradable.

www.greenreviews.co.uk/2012/11/19/green-reviews-top-10-tips-for-a-green-christmas

I'm obviously not one for turkey at Christmas, but if it will always be a big part of your day I would urge you to buy free range. Everybody can still do their little bit so following just one of these tips is a good start. We pot our Christmas tree outside each year and it's fun bringing it back inside and wrapping the pot up with Christmas paper. I'm also a fan of eco-friendly gifts and as a vegan driving a gas-guzzling truck is greener than a meat eater driving an electric car (due to the carbon emissions of meat production and the miles travelled between rearing, slaughter house and supermarket), I'll also be sharing a vegan and vegetarian Christmas gift guide so stay tuned!