Green Season’s Greetings
As we step into November, It’s time to start thinking about Christmas decorations and planning for all things festive! Making your house feel festive doesn’t have to cost the earth (environment pun intended). Tis the season that is known for over-consumption and over-spending. But with 62% of Brits thinking Christmas is over-commercialised, is it time for a change in our approach to the festive season?
This Christmas why not try to shift your focus from the commercial pressures and instead create a more sustainable Christmas filled with experiences and memories. We have some creative ideas and fun activities that you can do over the festive period to ensure that this is the best Christmas yet with the planet in mind.
Christmas decorations
Nothing makes you feel cosier than being curled up on a sofa with a mug of hot chocolate surrounded by Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, a lot of decorations in shops today are filled with un-recyclable plastic and are not made to last. So instead, why not try some home-made decorations this year! Invite some friends over for a ‘mince pie and mulled wine’ evening filled with crafts.
First up are these lovely origami stars. These are perfect tree decorations or can be strung together to make a garland, we absolutely love the look of the ones made with music sheets from the charity shop!
Next let’s make the most of our natural environment and get creative! Organise a festive family walk to find natural materials for home-made decorations. The best hunting ground for wintry materials are gardens, woods, hedgerows, verges and field edges. Look for evergreen foliage, twigs, branches, berries, seed heads, colours and textures. Weave together bendy branches or twigs like hazel, willow and ivy to make a wreath and add ribbon, dried fruit and red berried holly to bring a pop of colour! You can create eye-catching displays using bare twigs and Christmas lights. Hanging oak or other medium-sized tree branches to the ceiling is a great alternative to a Christmas tree and vases of twigs, sprigs of foliage or pinecones strewn down the centre of the table around tea lights looks amazing.
Look online for tutorials on sustainable wreath making, garland making and tree decoration making, the options are endless! We can’t wait to see what you come up with. Find more tips here from Resource Futures!
Wrapping
Unfortunately, most conventional wrapping paper isn’t recyclable and even wrapping paper that is labelled as recyclable often isn’t recycled as it is too difficult for crews to tell the difference between the two when sorting.
Alternative options that are most likely to be recycled are brown paper or reusing newspapers or magazines to wrap your presents. Try to use as little tape as possible and paper tape is better than plastic.
If you fancy something more colourful, cloth wrapping or gift boxes are a great reusable option that create circular gift-giving as the recipient can use them to wrap presents next year. Furoshiki – the Japanese art of cloth wrapping is a fun and sustainable way to wrap your gifts this year. Click here for a tutorial.
Gift Giving
This Christmas, consider making your gifts more thoughtful and sustainable by choosing handmade, experience-based, or second-hand options. These alternatives are not only unique but help reduce waste and support a more mindful approach to the festive season.
Handmade gifts are a wonderful way to add a personal touch. Whether you’re baking homemade cookies, making jams or sloe gin, or creating bath scrubs with simple ingredients like sugar and coconut oil, your effort shows thoughtfulness. Upcycled items, like a hand-painted mug or jar candle holders, can also make for one-of-a-kind presents that feel extra special. You can find plenty of DIY tutorials online and for more tips check out Recycle Devons blog.
Experience gifts provide lasting memories without the physical clutter. Treat your loved one to a meal with a restaurant voucher, or give the gift of creativity with a class, like pottery or painting. You could also offer a subscription service—whether it’s for books, wine, or streaming—tailored to their interests. Memberships to local nature organisations or tickets to a concert or theatre performance are also great ways to give meaningful experiences that they’ll remember long after the holidays. You can create your own voucher!
Second-hand gifts are perfect for finding unique treasures. Charity shops, vintage markets, and online platforms like eBay and Vinted offer a wide range of items that can be both personal and eco-friendly. Plan ahead and get searching early! Elevate your gift presentation by reusing ribbons, scarves, or saved gift boxes to wrap your finds beautifully.
Activities and Events
Chatting amongst the team, the things we cherish most are time with our families, yearly traditions and community. Focusing on these values make it easy to have a sustainable and waste-minimal Christmas filled with fun activities, making time for friends and family and supporting community events. This holiday season, take the time to hang out with friends, spend time with family and make new memories. In our counties, we have a fabulous network of community groups who are running many events from wreath making to swap events. Follow the CAG Devon and CAG Somerset pages to be kept UpToDate on the latest events in your area.
We would love to hear your plans and tips for a Sustainable Christmas, please reach out to us on our socials!