It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and Christmas lights and decorations are slowly going up across the country. But as we all know, this year’s celebrations will look a lot different from last year’s. COVID-19 continues to impact our lives, and with many of us under lockdown and household mixing restrictions, the prospect of celebrating a “normal” Christmas seems slim.

Despite not being able to mingle as freely as in years past, there are still a few things we can do to not only celebrate Christmas safely but also sustainably. With an estimated 125,000 tonnes of plastic food packaging thrown away during the Christmas period in the UK, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper used, and one billion Christmas cards sold (which takes 33 million trees to produce), we could all do with making our celebrations more eco-friendly.

Check out our top tips for celebrating Christmas stylishly, sustainably and safely, below!

Homemade sustainable wreaths

Instead of buying a pre-made artificial wreath this year, why not challenge yourself to make one from scratch? It’s easier than it sounds. All you need is some wire, foliage, pinecones and a red ribbon. Start by shaping your wire into a circle. Then carefully wrap your foliage around the wire, securing with twine when needed. Add in some holly, glue on few pinecones and attach a red ribbon on top for extra festiveness. It’s not only fun to make but good for the environment, too! When you are finished using it, you can compost your foliage so that it doesn’t go to waste.

Go on a socially distanced Christmas walk

Although you may be limited with how many people you’re able to invite to your home, meeting up with a friend, family member or small group of loved ones for a Christmas walk (depending on your location’s rules and restrictions) is a great way to have in-person quality time while still practising social distancing. So, pour some hot coffee in a thermos, bundle up warmly and enjoy holiday celebrations together in a safe outdoor environment!

Use Recyclable wrapping paper and Christmas cards

The total amount of card packaging used each year in the UK is enough to cover Big Ben 260,000 times. The average household uses four rolls of wrapping paper during the Christmas season. Instead of picking up just any old card or wrapping paper at your local supermarket, put in a little more thought this year and choose recyclable and/or biodegradable options.

DIY zero-waste décor

Given that our Christmas celebrations will be limited this year, it is arguably all the more important that we incorporate as much Christmas cheer into our homes as possible. DIY crafts are a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit while minimising our environmental footprint.

Dried oranges make a wonderful waste-free Christmas decoration. Simply thinly slice your orange, arrange on a baking tray and pop in the oven at 120 C for 45 minutes – 1 hour. Once cooled, string them together to make a garland or attach them to your wreath for decoration! When it comes time to take them down, you can simply dispose of them in your compost bin.

Struggling to find sustainable ways to decorate your tree? Try making a popcorn and cranberry garland. Pop some popcorn the day before and weed out any mushy cranberries before you begin. Then simply string them together through the wire, drape around your tree, and voila! Another easy and compostable way to decorate your home for the holidays.

And there you have it! This has been our very 2020 guide to celebrating Christmas as stylishly, sustainably and safely as possible.

Do you have any other tips you would like to share? Let us know in the comment section below!

A Very 2020 Guide to Christmas