For me, Christmas has to be the best time of the year; the decorations, the lights, the food, the presents, spending time with your family…this is what I am all about! There is definitely a certain magic about this time of year but this can also come at a cost to the planet, so how do we lower our environmental impact whilst still keeping the magic of Christmas alive? That’s what I want to talk about in my next few articles.
First up is the Christmas Tree, this is a very important part of the holiday season and in my opinion is a must have really. If you want to go traditional then you have two main option – real or artificial?
Obviously artificial Christmas trees require manufacturing and are usually made out of some form of plastic which is not great for the environment when it comes to disposing of it, that doesn’t mean they are a no go though as if you can make it last more than 8 years then they might actually have less of an environmental impact than getting a real tree every year. Ideally though you should try and get at least 20 years out of an artificial one (My parent’s tree is a lot older than 20 years so it is easily possible). If this is the option you go for then make sure you spend time getting the right tree that is good enough quality to last this length of time – or even better looking at purchasing second hand!
Real tree’s on the other hand don’t require manufacturing and are 100% recyclable, however there is still a lot that needs to happen to get that real tree into your living room each year and it is down to you to make sure it gets recycled (Most Councils will have local recycling points)! If you go for this option then also try and make sure that you source your tree as locally as possible as well as from a sustainable source. Also look out for the ‘Grown in Britain’ label or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ‘seal of approval’, both of which guarantee your tree has been grown to set environmental standards.
When it comes to decorating your tree there are plenty of options for eco decorations so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something you like. You could even make your own decorations by going out and finding things like pine-cones, I am sure there is plenty of inspiration online for how to get creative. Chances are though, you have probably already got some decorations, in which case the best thing to do is to try and make them last as long as possible. We have a nice set of glass baubles from John Lewis that we’ll keep using and when they all eventually break (We manage to smash at least two every year) we will then look at more environmentally friendly options.
Hopefully this has given you something to think about but ultimately if you’re not sure then it’s probably best to get a real one, only get an artificial one if you’re confident you can make it last long enough to be worthwhile or if you can pick one up second hand.
Easy Being Green 