From cards to party dresses, food to trees find out how to ensure your Christmas makes a positive impact on the world
1. Send charity Christmas cards
Make sure the cards you send benefit your favourite charity. The easiest way to do so is to buy directly from the charity through its high street shop or website. Be aware of supermarkets and other retailers selling charity cards – some pass on as little as 10% to specified charities. Consumer watchdog Which has created a guide that tells you the best and worst Christmas card retailers when it comes to passing on donations. The Cards For Good Causes website sells cards on behalf of over 300 national and local charities promises to pass on 70p in every £1 from sales.
2.Recycle the cards you receive
With around 1.5 billion cards are sold each Christmas in the UK that’s a lot of paper and card going to waste. During January look out for card recycling drop-off points in high street shops such as M&S, which plants a tree with The Woodland Trust for every 1,000 cards recycled, and Sainsbury’s, which raises money for the the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). When buying your cards bare in mind the manufacturing process can effect how green your cards are. Cards which are made locally have a smaller carbon footprint and cards which are made from recycled uncoated paper are best. Look to check whatever you buy has the FSC certification stamp on the back – the Friends of the Earth online shop has a great range. Better still instead of sending cards why not send e-cards, send an email, take out an advert in your local paper or post on Facebook to wish your friends and family a Merry Christmas.
3.Get an artificial tree
Each year around six million real trees are cut down in Britain at Christmas, but they don’t have to be. Artificial trees no longer look like twigs with bits of tinsel stuck on them and may look as realistic as the real thing. However, if you have an artificial tree use it for as many Christmases as you can. Not only will you save money in the long run but it will also end up being better for the environment - not to mention you won’t keep finding pine needles in the corners of your living room for the rest of the year. If you miss that pine smell try a scented candle from social enterprise Made in Ullapool.
4. If buying a real tree buy a charity one
If you must have a real tree make sure your tree is grown as close to home as possible (at least within the UK) and buy from a retailer registered with the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. Better still buy one from someone like Caring Christmas Trees, which is a social enterprise set up by the Bethany Christian Trust. It sells freshly cut trees from sustainable farms in Scotland with the profits going to the trust. Remember to always recycle your real tree afterwards – most councils offer the option so get in touch with them or look out in local media for details. The other option is to buy a potted tree with roots which you bring inside over the festive period to decorate before taking it back outside to grow the rest of the year. These are a bit trickier but are more environmentally friendly. If you are relatively green-fingered and have someone to help bring it indoors then why not give it a go. You can pick one up from most garden centres.
5.Buy decorations locally and re-use old ones
Re-use old decorations to keep the costs down and your carbon footprint at a minimum or buy locally made decorations from your nearest craft market. Visit Craft Scotland to find details of your nearest market. You could even try to make your own – especially if you have kids. Surprisingly fairy lights don’t require much energy so don’t worry too much about them – but only have them switched on when you are in the house. If you’re lucky enough to have a wood burning fire we recommend getting some logs chopped locally to create a cracking atmosphere in your home. We love Tiphereth Trading which has launched a sustainable community firewood social enterprise.
6. Don't go overboard on the wrapping paper
In Britain we use 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper at Christmas time. Ensure you only use enough paper, scrap the fancy bows and string and only use recycled paper. Like cards, some charities such as RSPB Scotland benefit from the sale of wrapping paper so keep an eye out for that. Another option is to take your gifts to a charity gift-wrapping event. In Edinburgh Ocean Terminal shopping centre has a stall running right up until Christmas Eve where you can get all your presents wrapped for a small donation to charities including SANDS Lothian, British Red Cross, Health in Mind and Leith Rotary. But remember, after you’ve ripped off the paper on Christmas morning recycle it, along with the packaging that came with your presents. According to Friends of the Earth an additional 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging are thrown away over Christmas.
7. Don't buy food to feed an army
According to the Oxfam #clearaplate campaign, which aims to reduce food waste, nearly 10% of every Christmas dinner goes in the bin. That’s 263,000 turkeys, 740,000 Christmas puddings and 17.2 million Brussels sprouts, enough to create another 4.2 million dinners! As well as creating careful meal plans in order to cut down on the amount of food you buy try to buy Fairtrade, organic and from social enterprises. For ideas check out our favourite social enterprise food producers here.
8. Buy guilt free booze
What would Christmas be without Grandma getting tipsy! You can get some of your Christmas alcohol from social enterprises which should leave you with a clear conscience if not a clear head the next day. Brewgooder gives 100% of the profits from its beers to charities and Clyde Cider uses profits to support community orchards to be planted with Scottish heritage apple trees. Sadly Scotland doesn’t really have the climate for wine but why not try and make your own mulled wine as there are loads of recipes online? If you’re looking for soft drinks give New Caledonian Woodlands a try, its juices are made with quality apples picked, pressed and bottled from its own orchards and packaged up on site.
9. Don't be ostentatious at party season
The office party where Dan from accounts photocopies his bum and Sheila and John get it on in the broom cupboard are thankfully a thing of the past, but most organisations still enjoy a good Christmas night out. Our suggestion is to shun the overpriced local hotel and restaurant party nights and hit your local social enterprise cafe. This year the TFN team are going to the Serenity Cafe for a very reasonably priced £8 meal, which will also provide a free meal on Christmas Day for people who are alone this Christmas. Another way to make a saving and to do your bit for a good cause is to get your party outfit from a charity shop. For something extra special try Mary’s Living and Giving in Edinburgh, Islamic Relief in Glasgow and Shelter Scotland in Aberdeen, which are all known for having designer and unique items –many others are available.
