How to Be More Sustainable This Christmas

Christmas is one of the most joyful times of the year. It is also one of the most waste intensive seasons in the UK. Festive waste from packaging, food, cards, decorations and single use materials causes a noticeable spike in environmental impact. According to government data, UK households generate around 30 percent more waste during the Christmas period compared with the rest of the year.

With a few conscious changes, you can significantly reduce this impact without losing the warmth or joy of the season. Below you will find practical actions for homes, families and workplaces.

Rethink Gift Wrapping and Packaging

Gift wrap and packaging waste surge in December. Much of the wrapping paper used in the UK is made with foil, plastic coatings or glitter, making it unrecyclable.

The challenge

• Each year in the UK, as many as 108 million rolls of wrapping paper end up in the bin.
• The typical festive wrapping accounts for roughly 227,000 miles of wrapping paper used annually, enough to wrap around the country many times over.
• Much of this wrapping is not recyclable: glossy paper, foil, glitter, plastic ribbons and tapes hamper recycling efforts.

Smarter choices for festive gifting

• Use recyclable or reusable wrapping: brown kraft paper, newspaper, fabric cloths, old maps, scarves or reusable gift bags. These often look more thoughtful and are much easier to recycle or reuse.
• Avoid non-recyclable finishes: say no to metallic foil, glitter, plastic ribbons, cellophane or heavy coatings. These make recycling nearly impossible.
• Reuse old cards: Instead of buying new gift tags, repurpose last year’s cards as tags, bookmarks or decorations. This gives them a second life and cuts down demand for new resources.
• Opt for fewer but better gifts: Instead of many cheap, impulsive gifts (that may end up unused), go for meaningful, practical or durable items, or experiences such as tickets, workshops or donations to charity.

Make Your Festive Feast Greener

Food and drink are at the heart of Christmas celebrations, but that often means waste. Thoughtful planning can help.

The scale of food and associated waste

• During Christmas, food waste rises sharply. An estimated increase of 30% in household waste over the season is in part driven by surplus food and uneaten dinner leftovers.
• In the UK, total avoidable food waste from households contributes to millions of tonnes of waste annually.

How to eat sustainably this Christmas

• Plan your portions realistically: Think about actual guest numbers, serve moderate portions, and avoid overbuying.
• Buy seasonal and local produce where possible. Seasonal UK-grown vegetables (root vegetables, squash, cabbage, etc.) often have lower transport emissions and are fresher.
• Get creative with leftovers: Roast veggies can become soups or pies; meats and poultry can be repurposed into sandwiches, stews or salads; bread can be used as stuffing or croutons. This helps reduce waste and stretch your festive food further.
• Recycle and dispose properly. Make sure containers are cleaned before recycling and avoid mixing food waste with paper or cardboard recyclables. Contamination is a common reason recycling fails.

Reconsider Travel & Festive Movement

Travel, often by car or plane, adds another layer to Christmas’s environmental footprint.

• Travel during Christmas contributes significantly to emissions when many people visit family/friends or go on trips.
• Reducing unnecessary journeys, choosing public transport, car-pooling, or staying local can cut emissions and reduce stress.

If travel is unavoidable, think about offsetting your footprint elsewhere by reducing waste, choosing sustainable gifts or cutting packaging.

Sustainability in the Workplace During Christmas

For businesses and large organisations, festive waste often spikes: increased packaging, more single-use items, extra food waste, etc. This presents an opportunity for meaningful change.

• Encourage employees to be mindful about wrapping, packaging and disposal. Clear bin labelling and guidance are essential, especially when waste volumes surge.
• Choose sustainable gifts or eco-friendly corporate merchandise rather than cheap, disposable items.
• Host staff celebrations with reusable plates, cups and cutlery. Avoid single-use plastic where possible.
• If food is involved, plan for leftovers and donate surplus food to local charities or community kitchens.
• Consider performing a waste audit after the festive season to identify key pressure points, contamination in recycling streams, and areas for improvement.

Shift the Focus: From Excess to Meaning

Christmas does not need to cost the Earth. In fact, we can use this season to align our holiday traditions with our values.

• Prioritise meaningful gifts and experiences. These create memories and impact, not waste.
• Reuse, recycle and repurpose, not just for Christmas but throughout the year. Make sustainability a habit, not a one-off.
• When shopping, ask: “Do we really need this?” and “Will it serve us beyond this season?” This mindset makes a difference at home and in the workplace.

Final Thought

With thoughtful planning and intention, we can make Christmas joyful and sustainable. By rethinking gifts and wrapping, being conscious about trees and decorations, reducing food and packaging waste, making smarter travel choices and introducing sustainable practices at home and work, we can protect the planet while preserving the festive spirit.