How to Have Yourself a Very Eco Christmas

What’s better, reusing an artificial tree, or buying a real one every year? It depends. The Carbon Trust estimates that a two-metre tree, without roots, has a carbon footprint of 16kg CO2e if it ends up in landfill, because trees in landfill produce methane when they rot, which is a very bad greenhouse gas.

If you burn your Christmas tree on a bonfire, or have it chipped up and spread it on your garden beds, it’s actually much better for the environment; this trims the tree’s footprint down to just 3.5kg CO2e.

If you go for an artificial tree, you’d have to reuse it a lot before it helps the environment. According to Carbon Trust, an artificial tree has a 40kg CO2e carbon footprint.

The best option, however, might be to rent a tree. There are plenty of companies offering Christmas tree rental. They drop over a growing tree in a pot, and pick it up once you’re done. In Great Britain, this company covers much of the Midlands, while this one covers a lot of London. But do your research as renting could be the more expensive option, so it’s important to weigh up the environmental impact and the cost to your family.

It looks lovely on presents, but wrapping paper is often binned within minutes, and much of it isn’t easy to recycle, thanks to glitter and inks. If you do want to put your paper in the recycling bin, rather than in black-bag waste, make sure it can be recycled. Lots of places offer paper that definitely is recyclable; in the UK the wildlife charity the RSPB has a good range for sale.

You can also wrap presents in old newspapers and magazines; the New York Times has a great tutorial on how to make newsprint wrapping look super seasonal. And if you’d like to give a little extra with your gift, you could try furoshiki, or the Japanese practice of wrapping gifts in decorative, reusable fabrics. In the UK, the online retailer Kindly Yarn offers some really nice wrapping fabrics.

Most of us are happy buying ourselves the occasional second-hand item, but it feels a little bit weird to be given or to receive a used gift. However, that might be changing this year, as ecological concerns begin to be seen as more important than shop freshness. British Vogue signed off on the idea last year, with a piece entitled ‘Is Second-Hand Gifting Finally Acceptable’? The feature quoted the food writer and author Jasmine Hemsley, who gives her friends plant pots and vases she picked up at car boot sales.

No one wants to hold back when it comes to the big Christmas meal. Still, most of us now know that eating less meat is probably better for the planet. If you don’t want to go full meat-free this December 25, you can try some meat alternatives, such as meat-free stuffing, or vegan ‘no pigs’ in blankets.

A new study from the University of Leeds suggests that non-vegetarian diets had 59% higher emissions than vegetarian diets, and vegetarian diets are healthier too. And if you are sticking with a turkey, make sure you use the whole bird. There’s a good turkey stock recipe here, which uses the bird’s bones and carcass, once the meat has been picked off it.

You don’t have to buy something for everyone. Some kids might find it easier to give brothers, sisters, or mums and dads a special pledge, like a promise to tidy up the garden over the Christmas holidays, go on a long walk (something mums and dads often like, but kids loathe) or polish every pair of leather shoes in the house before New Years Eve. It saves money and cuts out waste (some estimate around a fifth of the money spent on presents is wasted, because the buyer doesn’t always get something the recipient wants. You can make your own voucher to present on Christmas Day, and maybe even set the chores they can gift via the app. Learn more about our chores features here.