As we gear up for the festive season, it’s easy to get swept up in the sparkle. But did you know that the UK produces 30% more waste at Christmas than any other time of year?

Here’s what that looks like each year in the UK:

  • 688,000 tons of extra waste generated (that’s around 4.5 million reindeer!)
  • Over 227,000 miles of wrapping paper used - enough to wrap around the equator 9 times
  • 150 million Christmas cards delivered by Royal Mail
  • 150 million crackers purchased with 40 million ended up in the bin on Christmas Day
  • More than 200,000 tons of food thrown away – around 42 million plates of food
  • More than 100 million bags full of rubbish is discarded

Most of this waste is single-use, and much of it is non-recyclable. Glittery wrapping paper, plastic cracker toys, and excess packaging all add up.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This Christmas, it is possible to choose joy and responsibility by

💚Opting for reusable or recyclable wrapping
💚Supporting local makers and sustainable businesses
💚Ditching the plastic in your celebrations

We can help with all of these - visit our marketplace today 

Top Tips:

  • Not sure if your wrapping paper is recyclable? Scrunch the paper into a ball - if it stays like that then it’s likely recyclable. If it springs back, it probably contains some form of plastic and can’t be recycled.
  • Cut out pictures on Christmas cards to use as gift tags for next year. 
  • Support local makers with gift purchases and shop local for Christmas dinner
  • Choose reusable fabric decorations or make your own using natural materials e.g. fir tree clippings, moss, holly, ivy. So long as they’re not covered in glitter, all of these can be put out for composting, going back to nature and leaving nothing behind. 
  • Choose sustainable stocking fillers which are plastic-free e.g. seed packets/balls, homemade biscuits etc.
  • Combine an activity with a takeaway gift such as origami, seed balls, make and play kits, magic lemonade kits and more.

 Together, we can make festive memories without leaving a mountain of waste behind. 🌍✨