how to have an eco-friendly christmas.
You can have an eco-friendly Christmas without sacrificing things that make the season special. We've brought together advice on every element, from the tree and lights to the gifts and food, to help you make conscious choices and celebrate a Christmas that means more.
Quick tips for an eco-friendly Christmas:
Reduce, reuse, recycle: Think carefully about what you buy and consume, make the most of what you already own, and dispose of anything unsalvageable responsibly.
Shop thoughtfully: Support local sellers who manufacture their products responsibly and sustainably. Invest in quality pieces that are made to last and avoid wasteful packaging.
eco-friendly christmas trees.
Real Christmas trees are the next-best option for the environment, as well as looking and smelling fantastic. Farming practices ensure that cut trees are sustainable, and they are carbon-neutral if disposed of properly. That's because, when burned or chipped, they only release the carbon dioxide that they had previously absorbed. (Try to avoid sending your real tree to landfill, because, this way, it will release methane as it decomposes. This greenhouse gas is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, leading to a net carbon footprint of around 12.5kg CO2e, according to Carbon Trust.)
Artificial Christmas trees are the least eco-friendly choice, because they do not decompose and generate a carbon footprint of around 40kg CO2e. It's therefore important to use existing artificial trees as much use as possible before they are sent to landfill, to minimise their impact on the planet.
Alternative Christmas trees, such as 100% recyclable cardboard trees, are available (or craft-able) if you're looking for an eco-friendly alternative to the real thing. We love this tutorial from The Green Hub, which explains how to transform foraged branches and twine into a chic wall decoration. The only limit is your imagination!
eco-friendly christmas lights.
When buying new Christmas lights, LEDs are the most energy-efficient option — there are even solar-powered versions. However, bear in mind that manufacturing generates emissions and waste, so it helps to avoid unnecessary purchases and to make products last as long as possible. You can do this by following the manufacturer's storage instructions, repairing rather than disposing of broken lights, and donating any unwanted sets for someone else to use.
If you have incandescent lights, Energy Saving Trust recommends switching to LEDs, as they consume up to 90% less energy. Your old lights can be recycled at a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) point. These are available at household waste recycling centres, and you can find your nearest with this Recycle Now tool.
You could even consider using sites like Big Clean Switch to find a greener energy tariff. When you use 100% renewable electricity, mains-powered lights and rechargeable batteries are more eco-friendly. So, switching energy providers could be a great way to reduce the environmental impact of Christmas lights and other electronics.
eco-friendly christmas decorations.
Ethical, conscious, and sustainable Christmas decorations are available to purchase from organisations like Unicef. These are a great option to go alongside your eco-friendly christmas tree and lights. One of the best things you can do is to invest in high-quality decorations that will stand the test of time rather than those that will break easily or quickly go out of style.
Natural decorations are ideal if you want to minimise waste, and they can look extremely sophisticated when used properly. Try creating festive garlands and wreaths from the likes of pinecones, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and pine sprigs — these will also give your home a lovely festive scent.
Edible decorations can be lots of fun for adults and children alike. Try making our robin biscuits to hang on your tree or build a gingerbread house centrepiece for your dinner table. Other DIY decorations can be crafted from almost anything, from broken baubles to ceramics. You can find lots of inspiration online or look out for local craft workshops.
See our tips for conscious Christmas hosting.
eco-friendly christmas cards.
Whether you're shopping for eco-friendly Christmas cards or crafting your own, 2D designs on 100% recycled or FSC-certified card tend to be the most conscious choice. Wherever possible, avoid glitter, a microplastic that can be harmful to the environment, as well as plastic packaging.
Better yet, choose a plantable card! Hannah Marchant offers lots of beautiful Christmas designs containing the likes of carrot and wildflower seeds. We also love these zero-waste animated Christmas e-cards from Marie Curie.
eco-friendly christmas gifts.
Unfortunately, the gift-giving tradition generates lots of unnecessary waste: almost half of us have received Christmas presents that we don't want and will never use (Barnado's).
For an eco-friendlier Christmas, one thing worth considering is making a no-presents pact with some of the people on your list. Another good option is to arrange a Secret Santa gift exchange among groups of family or friends, so that each person buys one gift rather than multiple. After all, we don't need presents to celebrate and show loved ones how much they're appreciated.
If you do decide to opt for eco-friendly Christmas gifts, you could go homemade or shop with responsible makers and sellers. The important thing is that it's something that the recipient will genuinely value — ideally, a thoughtful gift that they will use and treasure.
At Denby, we offer a wide range of versatile, beautiful, and durable homeware gifts. Our stoneware pieces are handcrafted from local clay at our pottery in Derbyshire, England in line with our conscious credentials and come with a 10-year guarantee.
There are many ways these can be personalised to suit the recipient, too. For example, for the foodie in your life, choose the perfect selection of cheeses and crackers to gift alongside a platter, creating a bespoke cheeseboard gift. These kinds of thoughtful touches show someone special just how much you care.
See more tips for conscious Christmas gifting.
eco-friendly christmas wrapping paper.
The UK throws away 227,000 miles of wrapping paper every year (First Mile). Unfortunately, many products use foils, dyes, glitters, and other materials that can’t be recycled.
Sustainable and fully recyclable Christmas wrapping paper is available, with kraft paper being a popular option, but rolls tend to come wrapped in plastic. You may prefer to recycle newspapers and magazines — these can even be specially selected to suit the recipient or gift.
Wrapping gifts with fabric can be an eco-friendlier choice because it eliminates the need for any single-use products, including sticky tape — you'll just need to ask the recipient to reuse or return the material. It also looks beautiful! You can find out how to wrap gifts with fabric using our step-by-step guide.
If you don't have any unwanted fabric lying around, consider investing in reusable wrapping paper. Wrag Wrap offers reusable gift bags, bottle bags, and wrap made from recycled plastic bottles, and there are lots of Christmassy designs to choose from. Rethinkwrap, which is made in the UK, is also a conscious choice.
eco-friendly christmas food.
Conscious food shopping is one of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of Christmas. Here are some tips:
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Choose organic: Organic farming benefits nature, encourages more wildlife, has a lower impact on the planet, and helps build healthy soils (Soil Association).
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Reduce meat consumption: 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to livestock (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), which means meat and animal products are significant contributors to climate change. Going vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian can also help the environment in other ways.
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Buy local: Generally, the further your food has to travel, the more emissions and waste are generated along the way. Consider buying locally grown produce from a farmer's market.
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Check packaging: Buying loose ingredients wherever possible helps to reduce waste. Otherwise, look out for food products with minimal, recycled, and recyclable packaging.
For a beautiful and conscious Christmas table setting, use natural decorations like pinecones and plants. Then it's simply a case of setting the table with plates, glasses, and cutlery, leaving room for your serveware in the centre. You might also want to add fabric napkins and eco-friendly crackers.
If you need any new tableware, try to avoid Christmas novelties, like themed paper napkins or plastic platters. Investing in high-quality products that will stand the test of time and get use year-round, ideally made from sustainable materials, is the more conscious choice. Our stoneware dinner sets and other ceramics are designed to be durable enough for everyday use while beautiful enough for special occasions and are covered by a 10-year guarantee.
How to reduce food waste at Christmas
Here are our step-by-step instructions to reducing food waste at Christmas:
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Plan what you're going to eat and stick to the required shopping list.
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Store food at the right temperature and in reusable, eco-friendly containers to maximise its lifespan. Remember that 'best before' dates are just guidelines, whereas food may not be safe to eat after its 'use by' date.
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Measure out ingredients and only make as much as you need.
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Rather than plating up food, let everyone help themselves from platters and serving bowls.
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Refrigerate or freeze leftovers so that they can be eaten later. You can even reuse waste like vegetable peelings to make stock. Take a look at Food Standards Agency advice.
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Compost any unavoidable food waste.
eco-friendly christmas crackers.
North Pole Friends Luxury Christmas Crackers, Nancy & Betty
Traditional Christmas crackers tend to generate lots of unrecyclable waste, from the plastic window on the packaging right down to the little plastic gifts inside. But you don't have to forego paper hats and cheesy jokes this year, as there are eco-friendlier crackers available. Here are some tips:
Check the packaging to see whether the materials are recyclable and learn about any eco credentials, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
Consider whether the gifts will be put to good use or are likely to end up in the bin.
Look out for products that have been manufactured locally.
Unless the packaging states that it's biodegradable, try to avoid products that contain glitter. This is a microplastic that can be harmful to the environment.
Top pick: Nancy & Betty makes plastic-free, fully recyclable Christmas crackers in the UK, and they plant a tree for every box sold.
If you'd prefer to decide the cracker contents for yourself, you can buy fabric crackers that can be reused year after year. They don't have the traditional 'snap' but they do look very elegant on your dinner table. You can also make your own eco-friendly crackers by following the instructions below.
make your own eco-friendly christmas crackers.
You can make your own Christmas crackers from 100% recyclable craft kits, but it's also possible to use materials from around the home. Here's how:
Place a piece of A4 sized paper in front of you in landscape orientation, decorative side down. Wrapping paper works well.
In the middle of the side closest to you, place a toilet roll tube lengthways and secure in place with tape or glue.
Roll the toilet roll tube so that it is wrapped in the paper then secure in place with glue.
If you'd like your crackers to 'bang', place a cracker snap inside and secure one end in place with glue.
Gently scrunch the paper at one end of the tube to start forming your cracker shape, then secure in place with a small piece of ribbon or twine.
Add your contents — perhaps a recyclable paper hat, a joke handwritten on a piece of paper, and a conscious gift that you know will be treasured.
Secure the other side of your cracker, and it's ready to use! You also have the option to add extra decoration at this stage.
eco alternatives to christmas crackers.
If you're looking for eco alternatives to Christmas crackers, here are some ideas:
If it's the cheesy jokes you love, use a marker to write some on lollipop sticks or pieces of paper and place them in a jar. You can then go around the table picking them out and reading them.
If it's all about the party hats, buy or make recyclable paper hats and place them on the table alone. You can also start a new tradition by buying fabric hats that can be reused every year.
If you like to give your guests small gifts, then try placing them as favours on the table instead. Conscious, eco-friendly options include homemade biscuits and potted plants.
eco-friendly advent calendars.
Britons bought an estimated 16.5 million advent calendars containing single-use plastic in 2019 (Business Waste). As well as chocolate advent calendars, which have silver foil that makes the plastic impossible to recycle, lots of other disposable advent calendars generate high volumes of waste, such as those containing beauty miniatures or toys.
However, there are lots of conscious and environmentally friendly ways to enjoy the countdown to Christmas.
Paper advent calendars are usually 100% recyclable and come in a wide range of designs. Look out for those with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and try to avoid ones with plastic wrappers or glitter.
Reusable advent calendars can be filled with the treats of your choice every year. Wooden and fabric advent calendars tend to be the most popular, but there are lots of different types available. Try to choose one that will stand the test of time.
Digital advent calendars can be found online or on app stores. Sites like MyAdvent even allow you to create your own by adding photos, text, and more.
DIY advent calendars can be made from all kinds of materials. For example, you could decorate 24 paper bags and fill them with homemade sweets or tuck Christmas jokes and challenges into numbered envelopes. Get creative or look for tutorials online.
Merry Christmas!
We hope these tips help you to enjoy a happy, conscious, and eco-friendly Christmas with your loved ones.
If you're looking to expand or refresh your tableware collection for the festive season and beyond, or to find a thoughtful gift for a loved one, Denby ceramics and homeware are the conscious choice. Our ceramic plates, bowls, drinkware, serveware, and oven to tableware products are handcrafted in England using locally sourced clay and are covered by a 10-year guarantee.