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How to have a green Christmas: 8 eco-friendly Tips
Have you thought about going green this Christmas?
If you want to enjoy the holiday season of 2017 without the guilt it might be time to think about having a more eco-friendly celebration.
Here are 8 tips to help the environment over the festive period and have a Green Christmas:
1. Choose E-Cards
If you want to limit your carbon footprint, choose e-cards this Christmas. They’ll save on paper and on transport costs and you can be just as creative by designing your own and going completely electronic but with exactly the same sentiment.
2. Choose a Responsible Retailer
Retailers across the country from Tesco to IKEA, TK Maxx to Argos and Penneys and smaller local stores have come together to join Repak and these responsible business owners throughout Ireland are now helping to fund recycling. Repak is asking shoppers to visit www.repak.ie to find the stores that are in their area.
3. Head for a Repak Restaurant or Hotel
Christmas is all about eating out and hotel breaks. Repak now has over 2,000 member companies including restaurants and hotels who produce packaging. These companies are committed to meeting their obligations to recycle their packaging and help pay for the collection of Ireland’s recycling bins. By choosing a restaurant or hotel that is a Repak member you will be working towards a better environment. Instead of buying presents, you can support the environment by choosing a voucher for one of these responsible hotels or restaurants.
4. Wrap it Right
Everyone loves a beautifully wrapped Christmas present and buying gift wrap made from recycled materials will contribute to a better environment. While it’s difficult to always follow this rule, save wrapping paper to recycle where you can and you can also be creative with cloth wrapping and reusing boxes for shipping and for presents rather than buying new ones.
5. Recycle where you can
It’s estimated that Irish householders will generate 74,000 tonnes of packaging waste this Christmas, so while it’s a very busy time it’s important to concentrate on the way you are disposing of your waste and take the time to use the correct bins for recycling. In households with children, it’s good to teach the next generation how to recycle properly and to put the right waste in the right bins and take time to separate out each item. Get to know your local recycling centre for larger items.
6. Think about your Christmas Tree
Some people favour artificial Christmas trees as they can be re-used every year but others prefer a cut tree to avoid artificial materials. If you are choosing a cut tree, ask whether it was grown in an eco-friendly way and be sure to dispose of it wisely afterwards. One of the best options is a potted tree which is still alive and can be replanted. Locally grown trees will result in a lower carbon footprint and are more sustainable. Always turn off the tree lights after the family has gone to bed – this will save energy but also prevent fires.
7. Save Energy
Christmas time is all about sipping drinks by the fire and hosting friends and relations at home. It’s easy to get distracted but by thinking about energy use and turning down the thermostat and lighting from time to time, you can save money and help the environment. Using energy efficient lighting can make a massive difference and good insulation will save you on heating in the first place.
8. Go for Green Gifts
Without being heavy handed about it, there are great green gifts that benefit the environment from travel passes to energy saving items, from donations to environmental organisations to bicycles, home made gifts and decorations or vouchers or garden products. Always use reusable grocery and shopping bags when you are shopping. Try to find out what people would like before choosing gifts to avoid needless waste and give them the gifts that they really want.
Have a happy Green Christmas! #ShopRepakMember