Rethink wrapping
Every year, we discard 277,000 miles of gift wrap.
“Brown paper is a great, fully recyclable alternative,” says blogger Francesca Mason of FromPenniesToPounds.com. Ribbons and tinsel are not recyclable and regularly get stuck in the sorting machines, so avoid where possible. Paper raffia is biodegradable and perfect for your eco-friendly gift packaging.
Sending edible treats? Francesca adds, “Pop them in Mason jars (also great for homemade gifts like scented bath salts) and keep old gift boxes to decorate and reuse instead of chucking out”.
Send e-cards
We throw away 1.5 billion cards each year, so use Greenvelope.com or Paperlesspost.com to create e-cards instead. “If you do buy actual cards, look for the FSC mark, which means the paper was produced sustainably. And avoid glitter, which can’t be recycled,” says Francesca.
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Ditch damaging decorations
“Natural foliage is free, environmentally friendly and looks gorgeous – hunt out holly leaves or pine cones from the garden for table decorations or the mantelpiece,” says Francesca. Encourage kids to make paper chains and snowflakes from recycled paper to hang around the house, and make gingerbread decorations and cinnamon roll wreaths, too. “If you must buy plastic decorations, think about ones you will use for years to come,” advises Francesca.
Shop locally
One of the biggest challenges is avoiding food waste, reckons Francesca. “Meal-plan carefully to minimise waste and ensure you’re not overspending. If you do make too much, freeze leftovers or blitz vegetables for soups.” Shop locally and take a list to avoid impulse buys. “Buy fruit and veg loose to reduce plastic and visit Costco or Lidl for big packs of nuts or sweet treats, to save on packaging.”
Choose a tree wisely
For a real tree, try the Forestry Commission – they are sourced from sustainable forests and have a shorter transportation line. Or rent from Loveachristmastree.co.uk and return it afterwards (it’s around 30 per cent cheaper).
CHECK OUT: easy homemade Christmas gift ideas
Homemade Christmas gifts slider
1 of 10Homemade Christmas gifts
2 of 10Homemade chocolate fudge
You will need: 2 x Terry's Chocolate Orange (broken into segments) 200g Chocolate of your choice (plain/milk/dark - also broken into segments) 1 x 395g Tin Condensed Milk1 Tsp Vanilla Essence Knob of Unsalted butterBrownie tray, baking paper, a slow cooker & a spatula
3 of 10Homemade Christmas bark
You will need: – 2x 157g Terry's Chocolate Orange– 100g White Chocolate– 2x 90g Cadburys Snow Bites– Chopped Gingerbread Men– Freeze Dried Raspberries– Christmas Sprinkles
4 of 10Pedi in a jar
**You will need:**1 x glass jar1 x ribbon 1 x small jar of nail varnish1 x nail file1 x nail buffer 1 x personalised stickers
5 of 10Snow globe
**You will need:**A clean, empty jar or plastic snowglobe from the craft storePictures of your child- preferably laminatedGlitterVarious items to stuff inside the snow globeSpray paint for the lids (optional)Hot glue gun
6 of 10Reindeer nose bags
**You will need:**large sharing bag of Malteaserslarge sharing bag of Minstrels2 bags Giant Chocolate Buttons8 x strawberry softies or other red sweets4 clear disposable piping bags or cone shaped cellophane bags4 long brown pipe cleaners8 googly eyesglue stick
7 of 10Homemade bath bombs
**You will need:**300g Sodium Bicarbonate100g Citric Acid10ml of almond oilWater in a spray bottleDried petalsColouring – suitable for use in cosmeticsScent – suitable for use in cosmeticsplastic cup, scales, sieve, mixing bowl, food prep gloves, moulds
8 of 10Printed sunglasses case
**You will need:**1/4 yard of printed exterior fabric 1/4 yard lining fabric 1/4 yard of fusible fleece18 pt sewing needleIronSewing machine, thread, and scissors
9 of 10Home made soup mixes
**You will need:**A well stocked kitchen, full of all kinds of spices, vegetables and pulses dependent on what kind of soup you want to makeA glass jar
10 of 10Personalised wooden utensils
**You will need:**A set of unbranded wooden utensilsA metal stamping kit.
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A natural tree can be recycled by the council, but don’t rule out a plastic one. “If you already have one, look after it well and use it for years – don’t just chuck it out,” says Francesca. “Replace broken bulbs (search Youtube for tutorials) and use LED lights if buying new – they’re cheaper to run.”
Gift kindly
“Think about what the recipient loves doing,” says Francesca. Make ‘experience cheques’ for kids – such as a day of baking, or a trip to an ice-rink. “Try Oxfam, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree for second-hand toys.
"Subscriptions to Audible or Netflix are great (search online for discounts first) and check sites like Wearthlondon.com or ThePlasticFreeShop.co.uk for eco-friendly gifts."