17 tips for a greener Christmas this year

Christmas is just around the corner and preparations are in full swing for the special day, but while it's the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be one of the most polluting.

The festive season is traditionally the period of peak consumption, when we go all out on gifts and food to impress our guests. But you can host an eco-friendly Christmas without skimping on the festive magic with a little expert know-how.

From the tree you buy to the food you eat, everything – no matter how big or small – can make a huge difference. In fact, in just over three days of festivities, the average Brit will create the same level of carbon emissions as they would on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

We round up the best ways to have a greener, more sustainable Christmas...

At Christmas, it can be tempting to panic buy presents, particularly when we simply don't know what to choose. 'Avoid buying too much stuff that will end up being thrown out or unused. Instead, make every gift count by purchasing things with value, purpose and meaning,' says Merje Shaw, founder of Scandiscapes.

When it comes to selecting gifts, why not opt for something such as a potted indoor plant. Not only is it kind to the planet, but it means the receiver will find joy in the gift long after the decorations have come down.

'A houseplant, for example, will last forever (if cared for properly) and spark joy again and again,' Merje adds.

READ MORE: 12 Christmas plants that will make your home feel more festive

Give your local shops and markets some love this Christmas. As well as supporting independent businesses, you're likely to seek out special finds you won't get anywhere else.

Merje says: 'Supporting small businesses helps boost a strong, sustainable local economy. They have often put more care and love into their products, too. Plus you're guaranteed to find a gift they [your recipient] doesn't already own!'

Another great way to cut down on waste and unnecessary gifts is to choose one big present instead. Secret Santa is an excellent idea as it means you can put time and thought into one larger present.

A previous study found that one in nine Brits will swap their presents after Christmas because they received something they didn't need. Choosing to gift less presents will also ensure people don't end up with lots of little ones they don't need.

Another great way to help the environment — and to save some money in the process — is to make your own presents. Whether you love baking, sewing or painting, why not get creative this season. Best of all, it will enable you to put your own stamp on a gift.

'Consider handmade gifts such as food; most grandparents would love handmade cookies and a card from the kids, for example,' Merje says.

On average, Brits use around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. In fact, Defra estimates that enough wrapping paper is used each year to gift wrap the island of Guernsey.

Sticky tape, ribbons and paper covered in glitter can't be recycled, so stay away from those types if you can.

Switching to brown eco-friendly paper instead will help to minimise the high levels of waste produced at this time of year. 'Choose recyclable wrapping paper and use last year’s Christmas cards as tags,' says Merje.

'Alternatively, use brown paper and twine with a few twigs of eucalyptus tucked into the string – it’s both sustainable and beautiful!'

You can ditch paper altogether and wrap presents this year in fabric. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese method of using cloth to wrap up and transport gifts, or really anything that needs to be brought from point A to point B – and it's a great way to live a little greener and reduce waste this festive season.

Inspired by Furoshiki, The Fabric Wrapping Co. creates boldly colourful fabric gift wrap that can be used over and over again. This zero-waste take on a very old fashioned way of wrapping is a great way to add a unique twist to your gift. You can shop The Fabric Wrapping Co.'s products on Etsy.

Aside from making them yourself (depending on the level of difficulty), if buying new decorations for the home, choose handmade using wool, wood, rattan, recycled glass, hemp, jute etc.

If not on your local high street, you'll also find that many online shops sell locally made, bespoke goods too, so have a browse – you never know what you might find. For crafts, take a look at Etsy, Amazon Handmade and Notonthehighstreet.com. It's also worth browsing Nkuku for Christmas decorations and homewares – everything is ethical, eco-friendly and handmade.

'Spruce up your home and tree with ornaments made from natural biodegradable materials,' says Etsy Trend Expert, Dayna Isom Johnson. 'There’s nothing better than a beautifully made heirloom Christmas decoration that will be in your family forever and stands out in the living room.'

Shop this Chunky Knit Striped Christmas Stocking from Lauren Aston Designs on Etsy.

The ever-popular Christmas crackers can also be a huge contributor to waste in the UK. 'Most cannot be recycled and the plastic toys normally end up in the bin before the meal is even over. Keep an eye out for recyclable and plastic free crackers – you can even find reusable crackers in some stores,' says interior designer Lynne Lambourne, in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation.

Better still, why not create your own crackers for a personalised touch to your Christmas décor this year? Use recycled kraft brown paper or DIY kraft crackers and fill with plastic-free surprises for a stylish, eco alternative. Head to Hobbycraft for all your craft supplies.

Unless your baubles are damaged or broken, do your best to reuse them each year – and it doesn't even have to be on your tree. You could use baubles as table decorations or place names, or you could use string to hang them on door handles. 'Glass vases filled with old baubles can look really festive without costing the earth,' says Lynne.

If you need new decorations, why not head to your local second-hand shop to find some pre-loved styles? 'Don’t waste your money on new decorations when you can find absolute treasures in vintage shops,' Lynne adds.

Renting a Christmas tree locally is one of the kindest things you can do for the planet, as each tree gets replanted at the end of the festive season.

If you would prefer to buy one, choose one with an FSC Certification to confirm that it has been sourced sustainably. After Christmas, why not place some of the pine needles into a small cloth bag to make your room smell as fresh as can be?

Take a look at this flow chart on choosing an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

Turn your existing houseplant into a modern looking Christmas tree – and all you'll need is some fairy lights!

Alternatively, Bloombox Club's Christmas collection includes some wonderful houseplants that will become a permanent fixture in your home long after the festive season wraps up. You can also get a free set of fairy lights when you buy any plant or pot from the Christmas collection.

A staggering 1.5 billion Christmas cards are thrown away by UK households each year, according to Imperial College researchers. So what can we do to stop this figure escalating?

Friends of the Earth explain: 'You can cut your resource use when it comes to Christmas cards – you can send e-cards instead. Try using a free design app like Canva if you want to get creative. You're bound to know some people who won’t be able to receive an e-card but why not try giving them a call to wish them good will? If a card is needed, try to find ones made from recycled materials and not containing plastics such as glitter.'

A zero waste alternative is plantable Christmas cards. When the biodegradable paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds will grow and eventually the paper will decompose.

Case in point: These Christmas cards from Etsy are embedded with wildflower seeds which will bloom when planted! Shop this Plantable Seed Christmas Card Set from Ruby + Bo via Etsy.

The meat and dairy industry is responsible for more emissions than all the world's planes, trains, cars and boats put together. Why not try something new and have a meat-free Christmas by swapping turkey for a plant-based menu instead?

If that's not possible, you could make just small changes to your Christmas dinner menu. 'Go for a festive spread with mainly plant based ingredients and try to make sure any meat or dairy products you’re keen to have don’t come from intensive farms. When it comes to the vegetables, look out for products that have been grown nearby so you can cut down on transport emissions,' advise Friends of the Earth.

'When you're food shopping, try and choose things that are light on packaging, or buy loose items,' suggest Friends of the Earth. 'And if you end up over-catering, don't just bin what's left. Transforming leftovers can be a great way to create new meals, save money and cut waste.

'If you have too many leftovers, see what you can freeze. Or why not donate some to an elderly neighbour, local food bank or soup kitchen? Compost any other waste.'

Great for making use of any leftovers, give this potato, Brussels sprouts and shredded ham with chestnuts recipe a try.

Environmental charity Hubbub warns against buying new Christmas jumpers after finding that up to 95% of them are made using plastic. The most common plastic fibre used is acrylic, which was found in three quarters of the jumpers tested (research was conducted into 108 jumpers from 11 different high street and online retailers this year).

'We'd urge people to swap, buy second-hand or re-wear, and remember a jumper is for life, not just for Christmas,' says Sarah Divall, Project Co-ordinator, Hubbub.

During the festive season, why not share shopping trips and lifts with friends and family?

'Use public transport, or shop online and get bulk deliveries. You could organise this with neighbours to save on delivery emissions and fees,' suggest Friends of the Earth. 'If you’re traveling to see family this Christmas hop on a train where possible, or use lift sharing sites to make sure private vehicles are full.

'If escaping to warmer climes is your thing, think about southern Europe so you can get there by train rather than having to fly. Obviously in some cases there’s no other way to get to friends or family without flying, but you can follow our tips to make sure you lessen the impact of the rest of your Christmas!'