5 ways to have a more eco-friendly Christmas

Christmas is a time for joy and celebration. But do you ever feel guilty about the environmental impact? We get it!

It’s nice to practice mindful consumption and minimise waste at all times in the year, but especially at Christmas. In this blog, we explore 5 ways to have a more eco-friendly Christmas.

1. Tackle Food Waste

As of 2025, nearly 6% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas output is from food waste! [1]  Reducing waste at Christmas can be one of the easiest ways to cut your environmental impact.

Food is usually the main event of the festive season. But with a bit of mindful shopping and planning you can enjoy every bite without unnecessary waste.

• Plan your meals and leftovers: Create a menu that considers portion sizes and makes the most of leftovers. Think turkey curry or bubble and squeak!
• Buy local and sustainable: Choose locally-sourced produce and meat to cut transport emissions. Most markets let you buy by weight, so you only purchase what you need.
• Use food-saving apps: Apps like Too Good To Go and Olio help redistribute surplus food from restaurants and supermarkets at a fraction of the price.

Tip: Compost unavoidable scraps like vegetable peelings to keep them out of landfill.

Here’s our guide to reducing food waste even further if you need some help!

2. Plan Thoughtful Gifting

Gift-giving is a cherished tradition, but in the UK, an estimated £42 million worth of unwanted presents and around 23 million unwanted items are sent to landfill each Christmas [2]. Thoughtful gifting can reduce waste and make presents more meaningful.

• Set a budget: Agree on a reasonable budget with friends and family to avoid overspending and unnecessary purchases.
• Give experiences: Concert tickets, spa days, or cooking classes create memories without adding clutter or plastic waste.
• Choose sustainable gifts: Choose reusable products, like reusable bottles. Shop for items made from recycled materials, or refurbished tech. A special vintage vase or candle holder can be found in most charity shops.
• Encourage wish lists: Ask loved ones for specific ideas so you’re giving something they truly want or need.
• Arrange a Secret Santa: This way everyone gets a gift and saves money. This website makes it easy to arrange.

3. Find Eco-Friendly Decorations

Decorations can contribute to a lot of Christmas waste. Mindful decorating can help reduce your environmental footprint.

• Reuse decorations: Instead of buying new decorations every year, try and reuse or repurpose your existing ones.
• Make your own decorations: This can be a fun activity with the kids, use scrap wrapping paper for festive paper chains, or paper mache some tree decorations.
• Go for natural decorations: Use elements from nature like pinecones, holly, and evergreen branches, which can be composted after the holidays. Make sure these are on public grounds or your own garden. Try making your own wreath with foraged material.
• Choose energy-efficient lighting: Opt for LED lights, which use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and set them on timers to save electricity.
• Swap don’t shop: Hold a party where you gather pals to swap decorations. This way everyone will have a whole new set each year with zero waste!

4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Christmas creates a surge in packaging waste. The UK generates around 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging during the festive season alone [3], and an estimated 227,000 miles of wrapping paper are thrown away every year (enough to wrap the planet nine times). [3]  Try these tips to help cut down:

• Reduce plastic waste: When shopping for gifts, look for products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Take your own shopping bags, so you don’t need to buy new plastic ones.

• Reuse old wrapping materials: Save and reuse gift wrap, bows, bags and ribbons from previous years. There are some lovely ideas on how to wrap gifts with material you can use again.
• Recycle properly: Be aware of your local recycling guidelines and ensure that paper, cardboard, and other recyclables are disposed of correctly.

As we celebrate Christmas, remember every action, no matter how small, helps protect our environment for future Christmases. Here’s to a joyful, sustainable festive season!

If you enjoyed this, read more of our festive inspired blogs here.

Want to be more eco conscious with your car insurance? We plant a tree for new customer at Vavista. Get a quote today!

[1] UK Food Waste Statistics 2025: What Do the Facts Say? – Bartec Municipal Technologies

[2] Sustainable festivities: how you can reduce your waste this Christmas – Environment

[3] Understanding Eco Christmas — OnHand

Disclaimer: Articles are for general information only – customers should always seek their own independent advice. Vavista is not affiliated with the organisations/businesses mentioned and does not recommend or endorse any of the included products or services. For more information, click here.

 

Read Next