I, like many parents am increasingly conscious about my family’s impact on the planet. When it comes to Christmas however the pressure to create the perfect family day and maintain the eco credentials you’ve worked hard to achieve can seem like an insurmountable challenge.

Christmas 2020 is different in many ways and whilst I’ve never been a fan of shopping, I’m embracing online shopping more than ever before to try and shop local, shop with small businesses and reduce plastic and my carbon footprint.

I’ve had some wins and I’ve had some frustrating fails. I’ve also got a long way to go before I can call my family Christmas truly sustainable but here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way which might be useful;

Online Christmas Markets

Covid-19 has meant most local Christmas markets have been cancelled but some enterprising folk have taken their markets online. East Surrey Christmas market on Facebook for example has hundreds of stall-holders, categories for eco and sustainable products and friendly stall-holders who are happy to answer questions about their products. Other markets are available.

Local selling pages

In an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle I’ve had a clear out of toys and sold them or given them away. I’ve also searched for things I wanted second-hand. Dressing-up outfits, children’s games and Christmas jumpers have been my best finds.

Christmas tree

Christmas trees are gorgeous but can have a carbon footprint.

Working for Surrey Wildlife Trust usually allows me the perk of cutting my own Scots Pine as part of efforts to reduce the spread of this invasive species. This year however, that isn’t possible so I’ve made my choice based on where the tree was grown (UK) and how far it, or I have to travel to be united (6 miles).

Other ideas include:

• Reusing your current one.
• buying a pre-loved fake tree.
• Looking after a real tree and reusing it each year.

Set up an adventure fund

I’ve brazenly stolen this idea from a friend, to set up a fund which relatives can pay into instead of buying a physical gift for the children which will allow us to go on days out, try new hobbies and generally have fun as a family once we’re allowed out again.

Get creative

I love getting creative but despite lockdown am very short on time. There have found a few simple stocking-fillers which even I have time to do – cookie ingredients in a mason jar (I have jars left from a previous iteration of this gift), reusing gift bags to make up children’s gardening packs of wildflower seeds and kit to make simple garden bird feeders. I’ve found Pinterest great for simple ideas on this front.

An activity advent calendar

Rather than a chocolate-filled advent calendar I’m planning to add promise notes which give my children a chance to choose a game, their tea or what time they go to bed (!) as small treats each day. I don’t think I’ll be able to ditch chocolate completely but will mix it up a bit and include some acts of kindness as well in the spirit of Christmas.

I’m sure there are many more ideas out there and I for one would love to hear about them. I’ve enjoyed discovering talented local businesses and thinking up different ways of buying, packaging and gifting and will keep making small changes because they all add up to have a bigger impact on our environment.

More ideas

Top decorating tips

• Avoid buying plastic decorations this Christmas. Bunting, origami or pinecone decorations are much better than tinsel.
• Switch Christmas decorations with family, friends or work colleagues for a fresh look, rather than buying new ones.
• Make a natural Christmas wreath. You can even have one that will feed the birds as well as looking great!
• Make your own natural table decorations - holly leaves look fantastically festive.
• Avoid buying Christmas crackers which often contain plastic toys. Instead make your own using toilet roll tubes!

Gifts

• Look out for gifts that come with as little packaging as possible -or that you can recycle.
• If you are stuck for some gift ideas, why not try a zero waste kit. Try including a metal or bamboo straw, cutlery, a reusable coffee cup, reusable wraps, water bottle and an eco-lunch box.
• Sellotape is made of plastic, but don’t panic! You can wrap gifts with brown paper tape, ribbon or string. Better yet, go for a reusable option like a box, bag, or cloth.

Useful websites

surreyep.org.uk – Surrey Environment Partnership has a recycling tool and lots of useful information

invaluable.com/blog/furoshiki – a guide to Furoshiki, the ultimate reusable wrapping

recyclenow.com – the scrunch test and much more

Written by SWT Membership manager Sarah Jordan. Contributions from Anna Fosbery, SWT Volunteer Co-ordinator who now works in the waste and recycling sector.