Deck the halls

Your Challenge

The festive period can be a wasteful one, and many off-the-shelf decorations contain unsustainable materials such as single-use plastics, glitter, unnecessary packaging, and even disposable batteries. But if you need new decorations this year, with a little thought you can reduce your festive footprint by choosing planet-friendly options.

Reusing what you already own is the best thing for the planet in most cases. If you do need to buy something, or want to make something new, then our top tips are:

Christmas crackers. Look for FSC-certified crackers, which mean the packaging is made from sustainably sourced paper and card. Always check what’s inside a cracker to make sure you get something that people will reuse, rather than single-use plastic. And think whether you really need crackers in the first place. Reusable DIY crackers are another great option. Fill them yourself with sustainable options (like chocolates) and personalised festive favours.
Avoid single-use tablecloths and napkins. Instead of disposable options, use cloth which can be washed and reused.
Think about your lights. Use LED lights on your Christmas tree and for decorating your home. Don’t forget to switch off your lights at night – it’s safer and won’t cost the Earth. Try to choose lights that have a plug over battery powered ones. If you have to choose a battery powered item, make sure you use rechargeable batteries.
Make your own decorations. Use spare material found around the house: you could turn old paper into paperchains, or old clothing into decorations. We also sell Christmas decorations in our shop.
Don’t forget the tree. If you’re buying a plastic Christmas tree, make sure you’re going to reuse it for at least 10 years (so pick a good one!). Otherwise, it may be better to buy a living tree from a sustainably managed forest. If buying a real tree, make sure it’s FSC-certified. Be clear on how to dispose of your tree once the season is over. If it is potted, think about replanting it in your garden. Never plant a Christmas tree in the wild (they’re a non-native species in the UK) or dump old trees to decompose in a wild environment (this is fly-tipping and can cause environmental harm). Instead, look for local recycling options for your tree which will turn it into wood chips or compost. Check your local council website for their sustainable collection services. Buying a potted tree is a good solution as you can reuse it each year! Why not go a step further and rent a Christmas tree? This is where you care for a tree over the festive period and return it to be replanted for use again the next year.

Why you're doing this

Many festive decorations are not recyclable and are made from, or contain, single-use plastics that are thrown away by January. Not only are disposable items and plastics wasteful, they can also affect the world around us. They break down into microplastics which make their way into the oceans, soil and eventually our drinking water, food and even the air we breathe. Using items that are thrown away after use also means all the energy, water and the carbon emissions that were generated when they were produced, are wasted.

How you'll make a difference

Making decorations from waste materials – such as paper, card or fabric – extends the life of existing materials and reduces waste. This helps to reduce the impact we have on the planet’s precious resources, as current consumption levels are pushing the planet beyond its boundaries. Currently the UK has an ecological footprint of 2.4 planets^[1] – this means that if everyone on Earth lived like the average UK citizen, we’d need 2.4 planets to sustain us! Taking control of festive excess can help reduce this dependence on the planet’s limited resources.

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