Dreaming of a green Christmas?

[SuperCaliFragalistic]

Every year I want to have a more eco-friendly xmas. And every year i give in to a certain amount of disposable plastic tat in the form of stocking fillers, shiny wrapping paper, advent calendars, plastic bottles of smellies and such like.

I've managed a few things over the years including homemade christmas crackers and a book advent calendar. I'm pretty frugal about reusing the same decorations until they fall apart and the kids main presents tend to be decent quality items that get used a lot then passed on (bikes, scooters, tablets). But the guilt around the excess and the environmental impact seeps in.

What are your top tips for an eco-friendly xmas that I can start thinking about now? Or ethical shopping sites for toys, books advent calenders etc? Determined not to overuse Amazon this year given their tax dodging and crap treatment of employees.

I've thought of a couple of other things. Also partly driven by having quite enough clutter already. When DS was younger he would get stuff he needed anyway, just a nicer version, so maybe Thomas the Tank Engine duvet set, Minecraft slippers. We could probably still get away with Star Wars Pyjamas but he has cottoned on and voiced that bed linen is not really a present in his eyes any more.

Last year for birthdays and Christmas we exchanged vouchers for activities, if that involved a local independent business so much the better. We did go-karting, cat cafe, chihuahua cafe, a local chocolate based attraction. Not all green in their own right but there is an element of needing to give people something they actually want and it did mean money was spent on stuff people wanted and used without creating STUFF that has to be housed and eventually goes in the bin.

With DS and DIL, I try to buy them gifts that are mostly consumable so that they don’t take up lots of room in their tiny one bed flat. If I can buy these from local independent shops all good. We used to have craft and farmers markets each month (open air) but not sure if they will happen this year, even though the usual market is running, the crowds approaching Christmas may be a problem and some stall holders may stay away. And we haven’t seen any of the usual stalls this year from the craft and farmers markets.

I read this approach to buying gifts for children on here last year and really liked it.
‘Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.‘

@Namechangeforthis88 I do something a bit similar where I buy basic versions of things they need, eg stationery, sports equipment, hobbies, clothing and they can save for fancier/branded versions or wait for birthdays and Christmas.

That way, at least some of their gifts are things they will get a lot of use out of.

Some wonderful ideas here!
I think my main ones I try to embrace are

1. Quality gifts, not a lot. My kids are still young so we will 'get them used' to less. I like the approach you use @Cherry321
2. Fabric wrapping! I have loved making this from bunting/fabric and my sewing machine (I'm a beginner!) And hoping to get the fabric trend to spread through my wider family. I think they look quite good too!
3. Try buy organic/local/small business for food and gifts that way spending goes to the right places.

It sounds like your doing a great job already! Any extra food can make bubble and squeak the next day! :)

Some things we do:

• I make a big batch of something every year to give as gifts to friends and as part of gift to family- I’ve done candied oranges dipped in dark choc, blackberry rum, lavender and rose petal bath salts. I wash out jars we buy sauces etc in throughout the year and package In those with some reused ribbon
• I use the same gift bags every year to wrap and collect them up after everything is opened in our family! For littles, muslins make lovely for fabric wrapping
• experience gifts for most adults and keep things very simple for my 2yo (stocking plus one gift) as he gets loads from family too!
• no Christmas Eve boxes/ elves etc but we do go to see a light festival and attend Christmas festivities at church to get excited

•Kraft wrapping paper tied with yarn

•Kraft gift bags

•reuse decorations

•Buy meaningfully

•Buy vintage

•Don't buy tat to "make up" anything

•We bought one wooden chest from hobby craft as a Christmas Eve box. We decorated with the kids names and they share it. The same one gets used every year.

•Pack everything together so elves and jingle bells are stored well.

•Stay calm and remember it's just a day

I use recyclable wrapping paper and secure with washi tape. In previous years I've purchased silver coloured brown paper type in Oxfam, John Lewis. Have brought some brown with a tree design from Wilko this year.

Paperchase do recycled, recyclable cards.

Crackers I've tried to avoid but this year I'm going to try and make my own, with a nice gift in for everyone.

We usually buy a real Xmas tree but DH really wants a fake one - quite expensive buying one every year. But I don't really want to buy plastic, but also I'm sure it would last us years.

We are going to make a few gifts - wine & sloe gin, some baked treats for family.

I always buy Xmas decorations in the charity shop, have built a lovely collection over the years.

Food will mostly be from local farm shop.

I think toys is the hard one - I do try and buy secondhand but somethings I do just buy them - things like Lego which I know will be well used and stand the test of time. I try to avoid things like LOL Dolls as to me it's just pointless plastic. Charity shop a great place for books too - often in very good condition especially kids ones (sad to say I think a lot have never been read).

One I find hard is frill for Xmas cake - any good alternatives (can't seem to find thick enough ribbon)?

Thanks for the tip on naturally wrapt. The store is great and they now have all my money!
We’re doing homemade by DS where possible this year and I’m on an Amazon avoidance mission (though it’s not been a total success).
Christmas cards are from here. www.cardsforcharity.co.uk/ You can search by plastic free.
I’m also trying to get rid of all the delivery packing now while I can! Saving to send parcels to others, giving bubble wrap to friends moving house and the unusable is going out in the recycling now while there’s space. I’m worried we’ll generate so much next month it won’t fit in the boxes and DH will start sneaking it into the wheelies!