I’m writing this blog post a little later than I had originally planned, but as time no longer seems to behave itself in 2020 I’m sure you won’t mind too much. As the festive season approaches and the recent UK gov announcements have thrown a spanner in the works for many (I won’t be getting into my views on this as it’s not relevant to this post). I send my best wishes to you all especially those who are struggling this year.
The festive season, particularly over the past few years, has made me more aware of less eco-friendly activities that take place. Of course, people want to celebrate and give gifts but there are kinder ways to do so and quite frankly, we are at the point where greater changes in our lives need to be made. Ultimately, if we all went back to living off grid, with no more plastic, pollutants etc, never exchanging man-made products again, the Earth would be better off. However, I do not expect this to happen.
The point of this blog is just to make you reconsider festive ‘staples’ and how they could be made more eco-friendly, and whether they are needed at all. Starting with wrapping presents. Most wrapping paper is NOT recyclable… shiny paper is produced using very thin aluminium which cannot be separated and recycled. Glittery paper is not recyclable also. Looking at the image accompanying this post you will see that I have started using brown, fully recyclable paper. It cost me £1 for a roll from Wilkos and is easily available at post offices and similar places. The twine is biodegradable and wax seals can be melted down and re-used. I haven’t used any tape to hold it together to make it plastic free. Wrapping without tape is fiddly, but not impossible.
For the gifts inside those packages, I have made quite a few myself this year. I rediscovered my love of cross-stitch and sewing during the first lockdown so I have been making bookmarks, decorations and embroidered gift bags. I have also been looking at smaller, environmentally friendly websites. Handmade hand cream comes in glass jars and fully recyclable packaging, along with beeswax candles from Chain Bridge Honey Farm are just a couple of gifts I’ve bought this year. I’ve also bought gourmet marshmallows from Grown Up Marshmallows as an extra amongst my gifts. There are so many independent sites offering different and more eco friendly gifts. I found these stores by just spending a few minutes googling.
I’m fully aware that I have dived in changing my shopping and packaging habits – something others my find challenging. My advice is, just make a start and you will find these changes come easier than they think. Besides, we only have one planet, surely a few simple changes such as these are worth it?!
Holly Royle 
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