Mara Vaț, XI D
Whilst Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, we can’t help but wonder each year about the environmental impact. Christmas waste has been an ongoing debate for many around sustainability and how we can continue to consider the environment and the planet we live on, whilst still celebrating a joyful time of the year. Anot-so-festivee fact is that only 1% of consumer goods worldwide are still in use 6 months later and around 1 in 10 unwanted Christmas presents worldwide end up in landfills each year. So how can we combat overconsumption during the Christmas period?
Shopping more sustainably
One key way to combat overconsumption at Christmas is to buy products with longevity in mind. Will this still be of interest in 6 months’ time? Try to avoid trends and the newest “must-have” item but aim to shop with a purpose and something that will last and be of use for many years to come. Eco-products are also a good way to go, try choosing Bamboo gifts instead of wood, and maybe even look for gifts made out of recycled material. Of course, everything has an impact on the world, yet avoiding products going into landfills and shopping more sustainably is a good start!
Getting creative with gift wrap
Did you know 227,000 miles of wrapping paper is thrown away each year and 300,000 tonnes of card packaging is said to be used around the festive season worldwide every year? Whilst unwrapping presents on Christmas morning is a big part of the excitement, is it worth the impact this is having on our planet? This is not to say you shouldn’t wrap up gifts, but why not check if the packaging is recyclable before throwing it away? The majority of wrapping paper can actually be recycled. If you scrunch the paper into a ball and it stays scrunched, it can probably be recycled. Why not get creative? Look for old packaging that can be reused, and decorate some brown paper yourself. There are so many ways you can enjoy a more sustainable Christmas morning!
Recycle or reuse your Christmas tree
Each year 250,000 tonnes of trees are thrown away when instead they could be recycled and used for compost. Even if you have an artificial tree each year that is not recyclable, why not store it away and reuse it next year? However sometimes trees can become broken or damaged but rather than throwing this away, why not get creative? Reuse this to create one of these awesome home DIY home decor accessories. If your tree is not artificial, then you can drop it off at your local recycling centre where it can be turned into chippings for paths or soil. Whatever your plans may be this festive season, by taking that time to properly dispose of or reuse your tree, you are preventing an increase in the eight million trees that ended up in landfills last year in many locations over the world.
Reduce Food Waste
As Christmas approaches, one thing on many people’s minds is food. Whilst we are sure many of us do make use of Christmas leftovers, food waste is still a huge problem throughout the festive season. Each year over 250,000 tonnes of food goes to waste, which is the same weight as the Empire State Building (so as you can imagine, it’s quite a lot). So why not plan ahead this year? By having one trip to the shop rather than multiple, you are not only reducing the temptation to buy more, but also being conscious of our environment. Despite this, we know that when cooking for multiple guests, it’s tricky to limit what you purchase. We recently discovered a food waste app which connects you to other households and charities in need in your local area, called FoodWaste Romania.
Overall, Christmas is a beautiful time to celebrate. As the holidays are approaching, we, the team, WISH YOU A HOLLY JOLLY BREAK AND HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
However, do not forget, keep reading folks!
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