{"id":14661,"title":"Low-Waste Christmas Guide","description":"Eco-Christmas Tips, and how to have less of a negative impact this year.","content":"

Low-Waste Christmas Guide, Eco-Friendly Xmas Tips, and how to have less of a negative impact this year.<\/p>

Achieving a low-waste christmas is surprisingly easy. Most people don't see it but not only do we have black friday, where British home deliveries will produce over 429,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in a single day, but there's also the infamous infatuation of panic buying the week before Christmas. This mass consumption is all so uneccessary.<\/p>

We sell clothes, so you must appreciate how hard it is for us to say BUY LESS! Well, buy better anyway ;) But we also understand it can be hard to change habits, so here is our guide on how to have a low-waste Christmas this year, from a certified carbon-neutral clothing company.<\/p>

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1. Actually ask people what they want!<\/p>

People can really struggle coming up with 'the best Christmas gift' that holds lots of meaning, and that the recipient will love. But sometimes It can be best to simply ask them what they would like. They might be waiting for someone to ask, or they might have been putting off a purchase that you could help out with. In the MidWest US, a record of 19% of gifts were returned in the week after xmas, of which the majority wouldn't have been recycled. So buying something you know they want will instantly reduce waste.<\/p>

When buying wrapping paper, make sure it has a label saying it can be recycled. A good idea is to generally go with brown paper packaging, as you can always add sustainable stickers<\/a> on it, to make it stand out. Remember that wrapping paper with glitter or foil cannot <\/strong>be reprocessed. Santa's watching you. Don't buy glitter. All of our clothes come in plant-based, plastic-free, rip-proof, splash-proof packaging as standard, which has a funky marine-style design your kids can colour in when they're settling down after the big day. It's a fun idea which people seem to love, so try it out for yourself!<\/p>

An alternative to wrapping paper though is reusing old boxes, giftbags, and string. Buying someone a couple of jumpers? Wrap one in the other and put a bow around it! It'll look great, and the two-for-one surprise will hopefully make them smile. Also consider an organic tote bag filled with gifts, to create a super bundle!<\/p>

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2. Switch things up!<\/p>

Do you normally travel hours to see family? Maybe they live in another country and you have to get a plane? Consider switching things up, and facetiming them this year. They will probably understand that, especially during these recent years, things are going virtual, and it's a lot safer if you videochat now. It can actually be a big stress reliever for some families too. Explain that you will see them soon, but you are cutting back this Christmas, not just on expenses, but also on your footprint.<\/p>

Another thing to spruce up your Christmas (pun definitely intended lol) is to replace your traditional Christmas household items with eco alternatives. Natural candles, organic cotton stockings, led lights, reusable christmas calendars and even a rented tree. These are all reusable investments instead of wasteful purchases. And, yes you heard that right. You can now rent christmas trees! The average christmas tree dies 4-6 weeks after being put in your living room. A pine tree can last 50-400 years depending on it's type, so having one chopped down for 4 weeks benefit isn't really acceptable. There are many companies out there letting you rent a small tree, and watch it grow every year as you adopt it for the christmas period. This means less tree's being cut down, and more Oxygen in the atmosphere. If you want to make sure you're doing it right, opt for a potted<\/strong> Grown In Britain certified tree. When decorating remember to reuse old decorations, and have fun making your own new ones!<\/p>

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3. Shop ethical!<\/p>

For years consumers were unknowingly purchasing products constructed in the worst working conditions imaginable. Employees were not paid enough to feed themselves, let alone their families, and if they wanted a raise they were instantly replaced.<\/p>

Thankfully we are now aware of these working environments, and charities are working to shut them down. In the meantime, you have the choice to fund companies exploiting their workers, or you can shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. For instance, Eco Kaila's clothes are made in a factory audited for a wide range of social and sustainable criteria, are GOTS certified, and SA8000<\/a>\u00a0Certified (Social Accountability Audit). The clothes themselves are made from 100% organic materials, supporting local farmers, and are plastic-free, not tested on animals, do not contain animal-derived products, are hypoallergenic, recycled, and made to be sent back after being worn out. That is the epitome of sustainability.<\/p>

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4. Christmas Dinner<\/p>

I don't even like turkey, so this one was easy. Buy less meat this year, and maybe even add more plant-based alternatives to your meal. The kids probably won't even notice the swap now, as companies spend years perfecting the taste of certain animal products. The next time you go to the market look at the ingredients and opt for more sustainable products to those you're familiar with. You will feel better for it, and most of them taste better too, with no additives, pesticides, or harmful substances included. Do you normally make too much food, which goes straight to the bin? Organise yourself to minimise food waste, or use a charity to collect the leftovers.<\/p>

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5. After Christmas<\/p>

The days after christmas can be... odd. You feel horrible for eating too much food, knowing you'll set a resolution to try and burn the calories. You've probably spent too much money on friends and family, setting you back from your goals. To finish it off, your house might be a complete mess. You've made it this far though, so give yourself a pat on the back. If there's kids around, then it's probably time to get out the cleaning equipment for all the stains left on your table, walls and floors. Opt for multipurpose cleaning products, as they should reach the same result without having multiple seperate plastic containers.<\/p>

Although eco-friendly cleaning products weren't always considered to be on the same level as their hazourdous alternatives, the manufacturers realised people were starting to care more about what products they were using, and many consumers would prefer to make their own cleaners at home, instead of buying from a brand. \u00a0Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab<\/a> states \"manufacturers have been hard at work finding new, effective yet sustainable alternative ingredients \u2014 meaning the performance of eco-responsible cleaning products is absolutely improving. You can expect eco-friendly cleaning supplies and tools to tout benefits like\u00a0biodegradable formulas, ingredients sourced from renewable plants instead of non-renewable petroleum, refillable containers, and packaging made from higher percentages of recycled plastic or no plastic at all.<\/strong>\"<\/p>

If you've followed this blog, you would have been able to plan ahead to minimise food waste, or donate your leftover food, instead of throwing it away. You would also be able to return your tree to it's carers, keeping it's life going for another 400 years. Aditionally, you will be able to reuse all your handmade tree decorations, and have had an impressive, yet easy going christmas. To learn a little more about what we do here at Eco Kaila visit our sustainable gift guide<\/a>.<\/p>

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