2021, what can we say?! I feel we are approaching Christmas with a mix of emotions. Many of us plan to make up for last Christmas with a little more sparkle, optimism and hope, but empathy for those with less to celebrate. We want to be more mindful about how we celebrate and reduce impact on the planet but don't wish to be party poopers or make everyone else feel guilty! In today's blog, I share three easy ways to make this Christmas greener than last and still get the balance right.
Three ways to have a more sustainable Christmas
In the UK alone we create 30% more waste during the festive season. The Tesco Christmas Report 2021 found that over 36% of Brits aim to be more sustainable over the festive period, with half of those saying concerns about the environment affect their purchasing. So, where can we make simple, quick wins?
💚 Choose conscious gifts
Show them you care with feel good gifts that are planet friendly too. Doing the research to make sure your gifts are eco-conscious can be time consuming, so if you're looking for beauty or selfcare, I've created a gift guide of Pamoja's high performing natural skincare. I've done the research so you can be confident that gifts are vegan, certified cruelty free and handmade in the UK with ethically sourced ingredients. The Mini Experience is my top-selling gift, a 3 step skincare ritual designed to cleanse and nourish your skin. It comes ready to give in a certified Fairtrade and GOTS organic cotton bag. Shop all Pamoja gifts here.
Shopping small and local also helps to reduce impact on the planet, some of my favourites include
⚆ Sublime smelling soap and bubbly shampoo bars from Andrea at Zenote
⚆ Pretty ceramics, planters and touchstones from Katie's Cloud Nine Ceramics
⚆ Handmade Jewellery from Daffodil and Leek
⚆ Dorcas Creates statement prints, gift wrap and homeware that celebrates Black women
⚆ Artisan chocolate in feel good flavours from the Good Tempered Chocolate Co.
⚆ Soy wax candles, handpoured in Cumbria by the Wildflower Country Co.
⚆ Muffin Sisters African inspired baby and children's wear
⚆ Laundry Day for super soft tees and sweatshirts
⚆ Aromatherapy bath soaks and room sprays from Millies Organics
🎁 Recycle or reuse your gift wrap
There are many recyclable and reusable wrap options, offering an alternative to non-recyclable foil and glitter wrap. ‘Wearth’ has a great selection including, organic cotton gift wraps. They come with a wrapping guide, they’re very pretty and are even machine washable! On the high street, it's great to see that M+S have switched to recyclable and 100% plastic-free gift wrap this year 👏🏽.
This year I'm offering to gift wrap your skincare for FREE, in a fully recyclable paper with a reusable ribbon or FSC certified bags with cotton handles, grosgrain ribbon and acid-free tissue - all fully recyclable and reusable too!
Tip: To test if wrapping paper can be recycled, try the scrunch test. If the paper stays scrunched in your hand when you let it go, it can be recycled. If the paper starts to uncurl it contains plastic and cannot be recycled. Also, remember to watch out for glitter papers which are also unrecyclable.
🌲 Recycle or reuse your Christmas tree
A real tree has a lower carbon footprint, but sadly many end up in a landfill. Try buying a living potted tree that you can water and put in your garden after Christmas, and re-use it in years to come. If you have a tree with roots attached, repot it with fresh compost, and it will prosper in your garden until next year.
If you're not green fingered, check out Christmas tree hire services run by many local garden centres! Family business Love a Christmas Tree rents out real trees in the Leicestershire area, they will deliver and pick up, and you can even rent the same tree you had last year! There are lots of similar schemes around the UK.
Look out for conservation schemes offering innovative ways to reuse trees e.g. in Merseyside they’re used to protect dunes, and in Yorkshire to build up hedgerows. Many local charities now offer tree disposal services in exchange for a donation. If you hold onto your tree, the needles make good mulch for your garden, though avoid putting too many in your compost heap as they take too long to break down. You can then take the trunk to your local authority tree recycling facility.
Many of us love the convenience of an imitation tree, but did you know that 14% of imitation trees are thrown away each year? If you have one, keep on enjoying it for many more years or if you want to upgrade, pass on your old tree to someone who needs it.
Thank you for reading my blog. have a wonderful festive season, stay warm and cosy!
Sarah x
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Pamoja is a high performing natural skincare brand, designed to help you nourish your skin and nurture yourself.
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