What are you doing to be greener this Christmas?

[Nc123]

Inspired by a thread elsewhere, I’m interested to know what are you doing to be greener at Christmas this year?

I reuse advent calendar, decorations and tree each year.
I have a clear out each November to make room for stuff coming in.
I generally try to buy preloved where I can (though I’ve not been good at that this year)
I buy useful gifts and only things that I’m sure will be used or played with.

This year I’m also planning to use brown paper to wrap with natural decorations made of things like dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks to minimise wrapping waste.

I do buy my kids quite a lot of stuff at Christmas but i try to keep plastic low, don’t spoil them the rest of the year, don’t fly, walk rather than use the car for short journeys and buy preloved wherever I can - so Christmas is my chance to give them nice things.

Tell me what you’re doing for a greener Christmas!

Best thing you can do to be "green" is not have any kids.

@Bpickle1

Best thing you can do to be "green" is not have any kids.

Bit late for that…

I'm planning on buying reusable crackers and party crowns. I reuse the tree and decorations every year. The world would be a sad place without children.

You can also reuse gift bags or do Japanese fabric wrapping. For paper also choose paper tape rather than plastic sellotape.
Skip the crackers or buy reusable ones or ones when you put in your own prizes rather than the standard plastic crap no one wants.

I've been doing fabric wrapping for a couple of years now to save on paper use. There are quite a few YouTube videos for wrapping ideas and I have plenty of fabric to hand as I make quilts.

I'm going to follow this thread for more ideas.

Wrapping
I have a pile of pre-loved gift bags and will also make some from scraps in my rag bag. I use newspaper to wrap presents and tie with ribbons made from fabric scraps and decorate with greenery from the garden. Not using sellotape means the newspaper can go in the recycling afterwards.

Decorations
I've been using the same ones for 30+ years now - anything new will be made at home from repurposed fabric.

Presents
I'm in the middle of a big declutter and have been doing my best to pass stuff that might be suitable for presents to the local charity shop as they usually have a large area set aside for that at this time of year.

DC are older teens so will be getting refillable eyeshadow palettes and turtle dove gloves in their stockings alongside stuff they will use - stationery etc

Most of DH's presents are vintage things from ebay.

I do confess to having bought each of DC a christmas rubber duck from Poundland however (hangs head in shame)

I always use recyclable brown paper for wrapping, and I've already bought my daughter a couple of preloved toys off eBay. Probably go back to eBay/Facebook marketplace for some clothes/Christmas pyjamas for a treat.

I don't buy anyone cards, I don't buy advent calendars although she's getting older now so might appreciate a nice reusable one with some homemade biscuits in or something.
I don't buy crackers either.

I generally don't buy anyone else any gifts at all, and I make it quite clear I absolutely do not expect any gifts myself.

The non green part is my in-laws, all of them just don't seem to care and don't listen to us when we tell them what would be appreciated or needed and just buy a bunch of complete tat. I try and keep it greener by donating or selling the majority of it (because it's truly nothing we would want or use!)

As for the no children remark 🙄 if that is your choice then fine. But it's not needed in a post like this!

I've cut down on who I buy for and stick to consumables where possible, wrapped in recyclable paper. We're not having crackers this year. I don't do cards.

Oh, and I'll be remaining childfree.

Bpickle what is the point of that comment apart from being smug and facecious! It’s clear the op already had children.

I've got some lovely recycled paper and tartan ribbons for wrapping. I'll be reusing my tree, decorations and fabric Advent calendars. I'm going to try and get my cards from my local farm or wildlife charity. I'm buying lots of my gifts from small eco friendly small businesses.

Every year we use the same tree that we got half price from Poundstretchers in about 2006. I have decorations that are about twenty years old.

Cutting down gifts is the biggie. We don't exchange gifts with adults other than our own parents and 1 childless aunt, who deserves to feel special after buying lovely gifts for me and my brother for many years. As far as other people find it acceptable we do gift lists to keep unwanted tat to an absolute minimum, usually end up with some nice fairtrade chocolates, craft ale for DH and a couple of books that I fancy.

We did experience gifts for DS the last couple of years, I think that's weaned DS off the expectation of a big heap of gifts.

We made our own crackers last year as well, got the snaps and hat on-line, made the crackers from toilet roll inners and recycled/recyclable wrapping paper. Picked out one tiny gift per person to go inside that hopefully didn't just go in the bin.

I use fabric for some wrapping - it was an offcut of lovely gold fabric and the recipients give it back to me! I use purple ribbon to tie it. Also recyclable wrapping paper. We have leftover crackers (a couple of different types from previous years). I make sure presents are useful, and my mum has told me she only wants edibles! I’ll be given my OH a membership to a local cinema which works with the community.

Oh, and anything we give to my MIL she tends to give back to us so I’ll make sure it’s something I really like

I always use printed brown paper. And I buy a lot less stuff than most people (judging by the lists and budgets I see on here). We always do gift lists, so there is zero unwanted tat. I only send a few cards.

@TuftyMarmoset thanks for mentioning paper tape - must get some!

Staying home alone, no tat, no decorations, no crackers etc, have told everyone I won't be giving gifts and don't expect any.

I stopped sending cards many years ago and last year gifts were all wrapped the Japanese way in reusable fabric, knotted and decorated with woolly pompoms.

Charity shop cards is another one - direct from the charity (not exactly greener but still good to do). Also not buying too much food and wasting it / overeating til I feel sick.

We already use fabric wrapping paper - OP, I think that's better than your idea of brown paper with natural decorations (sorry to sound smug) as it can be used again.

We already re use Christmas tree decorations every year.

We were planning not to have crackers but it turns out my mum has already bought them!

Also we love turkey sandwiches and are happy to eat them for days and days after Christmas which reduces the food waste!

Locally grown turkey and veg for lunch. Bubble and squeak the next day to avoid waste. Buying minimal presents and sticking to requested presents/consumable food at resents or vouchers to avoid giving unwanted presents. Avoiding Christmas pjs and clothes for the kids, sticking to things that can be used year round

Genuine question (not meant to be today). Why is fabric wrapping better than paper? Paper wrapping can be made of recycled paper and can be recycled. What do you do with the fabric? I don’t want my drawers filling with fabric that might be in the wrong size.

Avoiding plastic tat in ds's stocking, cooking locally sourced food and staying within 10 miles of home.

Having stacked wood all year, I'll be cutting fossil fuel (gas) to a minimum and using the log burner as much as necessary. I live somewhere high/rural/blowy with no close neighbours so not upsetting anyone.

I reuse the wrapping fabric - people usually give it back to me (they are welcome to keep it and use it themselves)

Always reminds me of my gran carefully opening the wrapping paper and smoothing it out to use again! She also used cards for labels the next year - cutting them out with pinking-shears