To ask what you're doing to make your Christmas more simple/ethical?

[Quizeerascal]

Just that really. There's been a lot on social media in the media and in real life conversations about how we can make Christmas more simple, ethical, sustainable and I wanted to see what others on MN were doing. I've bought reusable wrapping paper for a relative who I think will appreciate it as well as buying toiletries from an ethical company, socks which donate to charity and shopping at farmer's markets/small businesses. I'm interested to hear others' ideas

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Trying to buy as little as possible
I used newspaper to wrap presents.
Knitted my dad a scarf.
I'm crocheting minecraft plushies for my DC.
I gave my colleagues jars of a jam recipe they all liked.

Trying to travel as little as possible.

I like buying things from small high st businesses if I do have to buy things.

Buying original art that's made locally is probably one of the few things I spend a fair bit of money on.

[Littletabbyocelot]

I bought reusable crackers last year which we'll be making again. About half the family have a 2nd hand and no wrapping / sacks pact. I don't think I've achieved simpler though, just more eco friendly. It's a work in progress.

[BaolFan]

Eating vegan (almost 2 months in and it's going well so far!).

Not buying presents - there's nothing we need and I'd rather people saved their cash TBH!

[hazell42]

Nothing. Im going to take a holiday from saving the planet, and enjoy it.
After all it's one day a year.
Can't we just be sanctimonious the rest of the year and leave Christmas alone?

[Quizeerascal]

I love these ideas, home made jam, plushies, reusable crackers, local artwork and gifts from small businesses all sound great. I hadn't thought of things like travelling less but that sounds sensible too

[Shoxfordian]

Nothing
I have 3 advent calendars, lots of presents for everyone I love and just ordered some sparkly wrapping paper

[Littletabbyocelot]

It's not being sanctimonious, it's making changes that are important to us. I think a key change is to stop thinking of being eco conscious as boring or virtue signalling. It's just something we all have to move towards and we all choose which bits we do first.

[topcat2014]

Brown paper wrapping.

[Quizeerascal]

We can hazell absolutely. But a lot of people do want to do Christmas in a more ethical way and I thought it would be good to share ideas of how we could do this. I'm certainly not doing everything perfectly but I'm trying at least to not be wasteful eg not buying presents unless I'm sure people will get use out of them

[CroissantsAtDawn]

Fabric reusuable advent calendar

Brown paper and fabric wrapping "paper"

Making a list of presents I want to buy, starting in August. Then going back over it multiple times to reduce it down, make sure its stuff that will really be appreciated and used.

[Toooldtobearsed2]

I have a DH, 2 adult sons, with partners, and a granddaughter.
Three years ago, I would happily blow £700 ish on presents for everyone. Noone actually wanted, or needed anything, so wtf were we running around like idiots trying to dredge up crap to spend money on?

Since then, we all buy for the child, but have a maximum spend of £25-30 per person now for close family.
It is BRILLIANT!
I get things I actually want - leather gloves, pyjamas, smellies, rather than poncey outdoor fire thingys or games I will never play that cost a bomb.

We use no sparkly packaging, but do beautifully wrapped parcels.

I used to buy up half of Sainsburys a week before Christmas. I did not waste a lot, to be fair, but ate a disgusting amount of crap (I am not being up my bum here, still eat an extraordinarily amount of rubbish), now I buy what people eat, not what I think they shpild eat.
We have regressed tbh. We now spend a lot of time as a family playing daft games, walking on the beach, eating and drinking and just being together rather than spend, spendm spend.

I am honestly not being holier than thou. I gave done the mega Christmas for years quite happily, just sick with the waste of it all now.

[AllesAusLiebe]

• I'm only buying 1 thing per person and I'm trying to make it things that we can do together, instead of throwaway items.

• Not buying plastic wherever possible. Son will get wooden blocks, jewellery for mother in law from independent shop.

• Not wrapping anything, other than for my son.

• I've bought recyclable cards which donate to a charity.

• I've been vegetarian since I was 19, so the family will be subjected to my nut roast once again this year.

I'm flying back to Germany after Christmas and I realise that makes me extremely hypocritical, which is why I'd never preach to anyone! I just like to feel personally that I've done what I can. I don't begrudge anyone having a 'blow out' at this time of year.

[AngusThermopyle]

Last year i made my own fabric bags and fabric wrapping but this year never had time so thought I'd buy some ethical paper from recycled stuff that can be fully recycled etc and string ribbon, card labels and paper stickers with biodegradable glue and paper parcel tape from a website that had some really really nice stuff on. It turned up, ALL WRAPPED IN DIFFERENT BAGS OF PLASTIC! I'm so annoyed.

[IdentifyasTired]

I'm buying less overall. Less presents, less food, just less.
I would normally buy a few new decorations each year whereas this year I have made decorations that are all completely bio-degradable/recyclable and plastic free.

Small steps and token efforts. But it's better than nothing.

[Quizeerascal]

Your 'regressed' Christmas sounds fab tooold

[6utter6ean]

Don't buy thoughtless 'stuff'. I try to buy stuff that can be used (eg consumables, experiences etc) or, if I DO buy stuff, then it's got as little plastic as possible.

There is NOTHING that any of my friends or family NEED and if they do need something then they have the resources themselves to buy it.

[smsd33]

I dont celebrate Christmas but for our family celebration I really like the idea of, and have adopted, the rhyme of giving 4 presents rather than a whole mountain.
"Something they want,
Something they need,
Something to wear,
Something to read."
There are other variations online too. I find that the presents tend to be more considered, focused towards the individual and usually a lot better received than a whole mountain of tat that is overwhelming and annoying to put away post celebrations.

[Confusedbeetle]

Not having a tree, brown paper and nice ribbon, oh and I thought I would drink less alcohol than usual, ha ! Smug or what?

[Stickybeaksid]

Brown paper for wrapping. I’ve done it the last few years. Less plastic in stockings and I’ve shopped local for everything. Our school had their fair last week and had a focus on green Christmas. It was really nice to see. Instead of the dreaded Chris kindle at work we decided to donate to a charity rather than buy tat.

[BanKittenHeels]

We are buying experiences rather than physical gifts for most people. So beauty therapy vouchers, workshops, afternoon tea.

Wrapping with reusable bags/newspaper and string.

Only sending cards to our really old relatives who would be upset if we didn’t. No one else cares.

No new plastic for the kids. DD wanted Barbies and houses, so we got her a new doll for her birthday but every thing to go with it (houses and cars etc.) has come from Oxfam.

We have had a reusable advent calendar for years. This year we’ve added homemade fudge to the mini stockings.

[ThomasRichard]

Generally reducing the amount of stuff. We have a family secret Santa, so the adults only buy and receive one gift each for a limited budget (£10 works quite well. We tried £5 a few years ago but it was hard to find anything decent). The kids are getting a stocking from Father Christmas and a present ‘snowman’. Pic attached to get the general idea. We’re going with a big present for the body, a smaller present for the head and an envelope with tickets in for the hat.

I’m using up the last of the sparkly wrapping paper I have from previous years and only buying new paper that’s recyclable. I haven’t bought it but I’ve seen Babipur are doing eco-friendly recyclable sellotape: www.babipur.co.uk/babipur-nadolig-llawen-tape.html

[ravensoaponarope]

Recyclable wrapping paper(but did that last year too).
No sellotape.
Think that's it.

[AgeLikeWine]

Spending less money. Buying less stuff. Buying fewer presents for fewer people. Not buying decorations, a tree, new outfits or a Christmas jumper. Opting out of secret Santa. Agreeing not to exchange gifts with adults wherever possible.

[wheresmymojo]

• No Christmas cards except close family (we have everyone notice last year)

• Asked for lists of present ideas from everyone so that we don't buy things that won't be appreciated (we tend to do this in my family anyway - everyone puts lots of options down so you don't know exactly what you're getting)

• Where possible gifts have been locally sourced (e.g. local cheese, local craft beer)

• Bought clothing for goddaughter from Monsoon's sustainable fabric range

• Tried to avoid plastic where possible (e.g. no plastic toys for goddaughter)

• Presents for DH have mainly been things he needs (like a new wallet as his is falling apart) or experiences

• When getting books for people I've got them second hand books from local Oxfam bookstore (agreed with them up front)

• A couple of presents have been donations to charity that would mean something to the person (adopt a donkey for someone who loves donkeys, my DM wrote her PhD thesis on women entrepreneurs so donation to help women entrepreneurs in Africa from Oxfam)

[Gazelda]

Buying from local independent shops
Making fabric gift bags from scraps
Reusable advent calendar
Meal planning so only buying what's needed (plus a few treats)
Buying ethical products where possible
Only sending cards to older relatives and neighbours
Not buying a bloody Christmas jumper for DD to wear once at school