Sustainable Business Toolkit

Sustainable Santa’s 5 Little Ways To Help Save Our Planet This Christmas

That joyful time of year is once again approaching and despite the strain Christmas may put on our finances, it doesn’t need to be the same for our planet.

There are many things you can do to turn this indulgent time of year into an environmentally conscious Christmas, without the compromise.

Just follow these simple steps from the SBT’s new writer Victoria Moore and you’ll be on your way to a sustainable Christmas!

1. Become the Baking Bell

It’s estimated that around 30% more rubbish is produced over the Christmas period than at any other time of year. Food packaging will certainly be a large part of that. Rather than buying all the festive treats like hors d’oeuvres, mince pies and Christmas cake, why not have a go at making them yourself. Not only is this a fun, green way of celebrating this season, but the end result can even double up as a gift in itself. Try baking your own batch of mince pies this season and wrapping them in reused cellophane (which I keep from shop bought flowers). Tie with a festive bow and attach a home-made name tag to create a wonderful gift fit for a king.

2. Embrace the E-card

Spread your festive greetings this year by sending an E-card to loved ones. Not only does this save on paper and transport fuel, but your purse strings will thank you for it too.

3. Broadsheet Blessings

According to latest research, Britain binned around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper last Christmas. To avoid such wastage, try opting for old newspapers, magazine pages, even old fabrics to wrap gifts in this year. Add a splash of colour and elegance with silk and satin ribbons which can be used year after year and which won’t cramp your Crimbo style.

4. It’s all about Local Love

Instead of heading straight for the supermarket this Christmas, try sourcing all your meat and veg this season from your local farmers market. This not only reduces food miles and your carbon footprint, but will also benefit local farming communities in your area. Click here to find your nearest farmers market.

5. Take a leaf out of Mother Nature’s book

Why not try making your own decorations this year using natural, recyclable materials. Fresh holly, mistletoe and pine cones all make superb festive decorations, as well as adding a wonderful natural element to your hearty home. Old glass jars can also make beautiful candle holders when tied with Christmas ribbons.

So why not try and make this Christmas a little easier on our planet. We may not get a white Christmas this year, but with a little thought and preparation, we can certainly try and make it a Green Christmas.

About the Author Victoria Moore

Victoria Moore holds a first class honours in Geography and an M.Sc. in Environmental Governance from Manchester University. She has worked as a geography tutor and recently returned from a six month journey through Asia. Victoria is passionate about the environmental movement and aspires to have a positive impact on the planet through her work and play!

Leave a Comment:

4 comments
David Friesner says November 21, 2012

Hi, I like your messages and am all for it! It would be good to be able to share them more by including a Pinterest Pin It button on your site, too. Perhaps, you can have a word with your development support team – sustainable, too!

Reply
    Mark Whitman says November 21, 2012

    Hi David, Thanks for your message and suggestion to include a Pinterest Pin it button. Might just do that. All the best for now. Mark

    Reply
Helen Nielsen says November 5, 2014

Hello Victoia. A fellow named Sustainable Santa and I have been working for the past two years on the issue of “organizing” our fellow “real bearded Santa’s” to promote healthy eating for the children. It has recieved great reviews from the Moms….mixed reviews from the Santa’s who are under pressure from the candy companies and Coke etc. to continue the unique to America mold of the obese guy promoting drinking sodas and eating sweets…..and the Mall photo folks who are heavily invested in oversized Santa costumes and belly padding don’t want to change either.

This year we launched a “Make your own Christmas Gift” campaign and produced a “Santa’s Idea Book” to show them step by step how to make things from the garden, from the forest, from the sea and from the kitchen.

I want to send you one. But I need a postal address for you.’

Please send it to me.

I found you on Google. You can find Sustainable Santa there too. He’s in the Sustainable Santa images addressing a NO GMO rally – that’s him pointing. And one of our You Tube videos “Sustainable Santa Saga #5” can be found there too.

We have had many mewspaper and magazine publications about the effort…but so far I can’t find them. Also give me an email address and I can send you a few of those too.

Helen.

Reply
    Mark Whitman says November 5, 2014

    Hi Helen, awesome initiative. I will share your comment and email address with Victoria so she can contact you direct.
    If you would like to write a guest post about your Sustainable Santa initiative please contact me through our contact form.
    Best regards, Mark

    Reply
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