Loath are we to say anything negative about the happiest time of the year, but Christmas is also one of the most wasteful. From binning uneaten food to dumping used trees in landfills come January, it’s enough to turn anyone’s eggnog sour. Here’s Hannah Collins with some tips to make the Yuletide more eco-friendly.

Low-impact Christmas food

• Try switching to vegan or vegetarian recipes to cut down on meat. If you do buy it, make sure it’s organic and local – the same goes for your mulled wine
• Reuse leftovers to cut down on food waste
• If you have your oven on for extended periods and your house is nice and toasty, turn your central heating down/off to conserve energy
• Avoid too many foods with a high carbon footprint, like cheese
• Get friends and family round: the more people share, the less energy used
• Don’t buy things that few or no people will eat. If the majority are anti-sprout, for instance, ditch them!

For time and planet-saving, organic food box providers Abel & Cole have a Christmas meal kit, turkeys and joints, vegetables, and starters and snack boxes made with minimal plastics. For every purchase, £20 is donated to Friends Of The Earth.

Low impact Christmas decorations & gifts

• Use non-plastic, reusable wrapping paper, fabric bags or magazine and newspaper pages for present wrapping
• Turn off Christmas lights when you go to bed or when not at home, and invest in energy-efficient lights
• Don’t buy too many electrical gifts. Prioritise books, wooden or soft toys and puzzles instead
• For gifts, shop instore, locally and second-hand if you can
• Consider donations, subscriptions, experiences and gifts that help other people and the planet
• Have a go at making cards and decorations from clay, paper, fabrics, cardboard, wood, dried fruit and foliage – even biscuits to hang on the tree. It’ll also give you an activity to do!

Rather than buying crackers with single-use surprises made from non-recyclables, try making your own with card and dried fruit using kits like this one from Etsy seller Acacia’s Attic.

Low impact Christmas trees (and disposal)

• Artificial trees can be more environmentally friendly than real mass-produced ones – if they’re reused for as long as possible. Try buying a second-hand and/or non-plastic one if you can
• Real potted trees (with roots) can also be reused. Even if you dispose of the tree, keep the pot rather than buying a new one each year
• Make sure real trees have been grown naturally without fertiliser by a local retailer. Check for an FSC certification if you’re not sure
• Don’t buy a Christmas tree at all and decorate a large indoor plant you already have at home
• Disposing of your tree: chipping or burning a natural one at home won’t increase the carbon emissions already produced by growing it; resell or Freecycle your old artificial one  

Thinking of renting a tree this year? Green Elf Trees’ pot-grown ones are between 3.5-7ft in height with either collection or the option to keep the tree included in the price – which is under £100.

Sources: Carbon Trust, Friends Of The Earth, Mossy Earth, WWF

words HANNAH COLLINS