How to Have a Plastic-free Christmas
Want to reduce your plastic footprint this year? Here are a few ideas
Christmas is a time of peace, goodwill… and often a lot of unnecessary packaging. If you want to make a change, why not host an eco-friendly Christmas this year by following these plastic-free ideas for a happy, healthy holiday?
Avoid single-use tableware
Plastic plates and cutlery, while convenient for a Christmas party, are obviously out for a plastic-free Christmas, but even paper plates and napkins, which aren’t plastic items per se, do tend to come wrapped in single-use plastic, so will need to be substituted.
To eliminate plastic wrapping entirely, choose cotton or linen reusable napkins that can be laundered afterwards, and borrow or rent any extra cutlery and glassware for Christmas entertaining.
Planning a renovation in the New Year? Find all the contractors you need in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Plastic plates and cutlery, while convenient for a Christmas party, are obviously out for a plastic-free Christmas, but even paper plates and napkins, which aren’t plastic items per se, do tend to come wrapped in single-use plastic, so will need to be substituted.
To eliminate plastic wrapping entirely, choose cotton or linen reusable napkins that can be laundered afterwards, and borrow or rent any extra cutlery and glassware for Christmas entertaining.
Planning a renovation in the New Year? Find all the contractors you need in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Upgrade your crackers
Many Christmas crackers have a throwaway plastic toy inside that gets discarded as soon as the meal is over. Make yours more sustainable by creating your own (you can source empty cracker sets online).
Alternatively, replace them entirely with a small tabletop gift, such as a little tree decoration or a tiny potted plant for guests to take home.
Many Christmas crackers have a throwaway plastic toy inside that gets discarded as soon as the meal is over. Make yours more sustainable by creating your own (you can source empty cracker sets online).
Alternatively, replace them entirely with a small tabletop gift, such as a little tree decoration or a tiny potted plant for guests to take home.
Cut down on plastic when prepping food
When preparing food ahead of time or to take to another house, store in glass or enamel containers. To keep food fresh, use beeswax wraps rather than clingfilm.
When preparing food ahead of time or to take to another house, store in glass or enamel containers. To keep food fresh, use beeswax wraps rather than clingfilm.
Choose ‘natural tinsel’
Instead of draping tinsel or plastic berries across a mantelpiece or picture frames, why not try to source the real thing this year?
Most places that sell Christmas trees will usually sell ivy, mistletoe and holly, too. As long as you keep plants with berries well out of reach of children and pets, they should make a fantastic display.
If you’re composting your greenery come January, chop leaves and stems up finely or they will take a long time to break down. Alternatively, have your local council take the sprigs away.
Instead of draping tinsel or plastic berries across a mantelpiece or picture frames, why not try to source the real thing this year?
Most places that sell Christmas trees will usually sell ivy, mistletoe and holly, too. As long as you keep plants with berries well out of reach of children and pets, they should make a fantastic display.
If you’re composting your greenery come January, chop leaves and stems up finely or they will take a long time to break down. Alternatively, have your local council take the sprigs away.
Pick plastic-free for the tree
If you already have plastic tree decorations, then keep and use them – the key here is not to buy any new ones.
If you need new decorations, the following ideas are all beautiful alternatives to plastic:
If you already have plastic tree decorations, then keep and use them – the key here is not to buy any new ones.
If you need new decorations, the following ideas are all beautiful alternatives to plastic:
- Antique glass baubles
- Rustic metal stars
- Enamelled tin decorations
- Felt decorations
- Carved wood decorations
- Strings of wooden beads
- Carved or stamped clay decorations
Rediscover paper decorations
Making paper decorations and paper chains is a fun, affordable and inherently eco-friendly way to avoid buying plastic decorations. If you fancy giving it a go, there are plenty of online tutorials available and all you’ll need are tissue paper, a glue stick, a pair of scissors and a little patience.
If making them yourself doesn’t appeal, you can buy pre-made paper decorations, and nearly all will fold flat after Christmas to be saved for reuse the following year.
More: 7 Ways to be More Sustainable on a Budget
Making paper decorations and paper chains is a fun, affordable and inherently eco-friendly way to avoid buying plastic decorations. If you fancy giving it a go, there are plenty of online tutorials available and all you’ll need are tissue paper, a glue stick, a pair of scissors and a little patience.
If making them yourself doesn’t appeal, you can buy pre-made paper decorations, and nearly all will fold flat after Christmas to be saved for reuse the following year.
More: 7 Ways to be More Sustainable on a Budget
Fashion a natural wreath
Making natural Christmas decorations can feel like a bit of a chore if you’re short of time in the run-up to the big day (and, let’s face it, most of us are).
But one way to embrace fashioning your own Christmas wreath or garland is to turn it into an occasion. Invite friends and family over, get some mulled wine on the go, put some Christmas music on, and turn wreath-making into part of the festivities.
Use scented materials such as dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks to ensure your wreath smells as good as it looks. Again, there are plenty of tutorials online if you need a little guidance or inspiration.
Making natural Christmas decorations can feel like a bit of a chore if you’re short of time in the run-up to the big day (and, let’s face it, most of us are).
But one way to embrace fashioning your own Christmas wreath or garland is to turn it into an occasion. Invite friends and family over, get some mulled wine on the go, put some Christmas music on, and turn wreath-making into part of the festivities.
Use scented materials such as dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks to ensure your wreath smells as good as it looks. Again, there are plenty of tutorials online if you need a little guidance or inspiration.
Make your own gift sets
To avoid giving gift sets encased in unnecessary single-use plastic packaging, try making your own. Purchase small items individually, then package them up in reusable wrapping, which can become part of the gift.
Books, socks, bars of soap and small food items, for example, can all be made into personalised gift sets and packaged in a canvas bag, cotton or silk scarf, or wicker basket.
To avoid giving gift sets encased in unnecessary single-use plastic packaging, try making your own. Purchase small items individually, then package them up in reusable wrapping, which can become part of the gift.
Books, socks, bars of soap and small food items, for example, can all be made into personalised gift sets and packaged in a canvas bag, cotton or silk scarf, or wicker basket.
Tell us…
Are you trying to reduce your plastic use at home? Let us know in the Comments.
Are you trying to reduce your plastic use at home? Let us know in the Comments.
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There are several smart and stylish ways to avoid single-use plastic-coated wrapping paper this year.