Putting up Christmas decorations is a time of joy for many and without them Christmas just wouldn’t be the same. But at the same time, there is a growing awareness that some of our cherished Christmas traditions can have a negative impact on the environment. Decorations are among them.
Luckily, a few simple changes are all it takes to make Christmas a lot more sustainable and eco-friendly. Here are some easy ways that you can help protect the environment over the holidays.
1. Eco-friendly lights
It is obviously true that a lot more power is used over the Christmas period on account of all the extra lights people have on. However, because most modern Christmas lights use LED bulbs, they are already a lot more energy efficient than they used to be. Power consumption is not the main concern when it comes to lights, although it wouldn’t hurt to light a few Christmas candles inside instead.
An overlooked issue is the impact lights have on wildlife. They can cause some creatures to have vision problems and even trap them. The best solution would be to avoid outdoor lights altogether, but if you really want them then opt for warm colours like red and try to leave some dark areas in your bushes, hedges, and trees. This will help minimise their impact on nocturnal wildlife.
2. Rent Your Tree
The ultimate statement piece of the Christmas season, when the Christmas tree goes up it lifts everyone’s spirits with it. But consider for a moment how your lovely real tree might be robbing some poor creature of a convenient habitat. You could use a plastic one instead, but these are very polluting.
Luckily, there is a third option: renting a tree. Rented trees are real, so they look and smell great, but they come in pots. This gives them the added advantage of not dying on you, so you won’t be sweeping up pine needles off of the floor well into the new year. Once the season is over, you return them and they are cared for until someone rents them again the following Christmas.
For extra eco-friendliness, consider decorating your rented tree with some upcycled ornaments to cut down on waste.
3. Gift wrapping
The best places to make sustainable choices are in the areas where we are most wasteful. And when Christmas comes around, one of the biggest sources of waste is wrapping paper. Even Santa is guilty of this one.
One way to produce less waste this year is to choose gift boxes or bags which can be reused instead. Buy some recycled cardboard labels if you want to add a message, as these can be removed so that the bag or box can be given to another recipient in the future.
Conclusion
Christmas is a lot more fun when you know your actions are not having such a negative impact on the planet. Cutting down on waste and light pollution are small changes that don’t detract from the festivities at all, and they can even save you money in the long run.
