Christmas is a wonderful occasion to share with your friends and family. It’s a time to kick back, relax, and indulge in delicious foods and sweet treats. We make memories and give thoughtful gifts to our loved ones in celebration.
The drawback to this celebrating, comes in the form of a plethora of waste. Every winter, we produce 25-30% more waste than usual. You can imagine the damage this causes to the environment. With our top tips, you can do your part to leave a greener footprint this Christmas.
Give Greener Gifts
How often have you received a gift that you haven’t used? We bet everyone has got at least one of these! Consider gifting an experience to make for a more personal present. Need some inspiration? Check out some of our great greener gift ideas:
- Gift cards & vouchers – There are lots of experiences to choose from; the cinema, Just Eat, meals, gigs, hotels, day trips or sport adventures.
- Subscriptions – How about a 3/6 month Netflix or Spotify subscription?
- Up-cycled gifts – Why not check out your local second-hand shop for something unique?
Remember: Online shopping means there’s a lot more packaging going to waste. If you’re buying gifts online, ensure to recycle all your packaging and keep it clean, dry, and loose.
Top tip: If your children’s toys require batteries, consider using rechargeable batteries. They produce less waste and energy and can be recharged multiple times.
Use your Imagination
Get crafty this Christmas with your decorations. There are lots of videos and how to guides online for creating your own decorations. This can be a fun activity to do with family over the holiday season too! Why not reuse your glass jars by popping in some festive lights or candles?
Try to reuse the decorations you’ve already got to reduce waste. If you’re considering getting new decorations, why not shop second hand? Check out www.freecycle.org for pre-loved decorations, furniture and more. If you’re getting rid of anything, don’t throw it away. Gift it to charity or free-cycle.
Send Out E-Cards
Think of the trees this Christmas and opt for e-cards instead. There are lots of websites you can create great cards for your friends and family. Be the change and start a new trend this year.
Shop More Sensibly
To reduce the amount of food waste you use this year, plan ahead. Before the big food shop, write a list and stick to it. Planning your meals ahead will help stop impulse buying. Take reusable shopping bags to the store with you. If you must use plastic bags, remember to recycle them when you get home. Soft plastics are now recyclable, don’t forget!
Top tip: Rather than buying wrapping paper this year, use gift bags. That way, they can be reused again and again. Also, old newspaper and twine is a unique alternative to wrapping paper.
Reduce Food Refuge
With smart meal planning, you’re sure to cut back on food waste this Christmas. How about saving that leftover turkey and ham for sandwiches or even a tasty turkey curry on St. Stephen’s Day? Try to freeze any leftovers you’re not using and ensure to make use of your compost bin.
Remember, with Panda nothing goes to waste. We help our customers manage their waste sustainably. It doesn’t matter which bin they put out, everything we collect has a use. From recycled paper to fertiliser and renewable energy, we make it easy to be greener and cleaner. Find out more at www.panda.ie.
