If you’re keen to adopt more sustainable routines and reduce your carbon footprint, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, research suggests that 46% of people state that they are purchasing more sustainable products in order to minimise the impact they are having on the environment. Other actions that people are taking to live cleaner include travelling differently or less frequently, planning to switch to an electric vehicle, and eating different foods.
With the festive season fast approaching, many of us are looking for ways to make more mindful and sustainable choices at a time when the pressure to consume is at its highest. But the great news is that from eco friendly Christmas lights to locally-grown Christmas trees, adopting more sustainable and eco-friendly practices during the holiday season can actually be more straightforward than you may initially expect. So, let’s look at some of our top tips to help you get started.
Sustainable Holiday Decorations
It can be incredibly easy to get carried away during the holiday season, particularly when we are eager to decorate our homes to really get into the seasonal spirit. However, adopting a more sustainable approach to the holiday season certainly doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on the joys of decorating.
Real vs Artificial Christmas Trees
The majority of artificial Christmas trees are manufactured in China from materials like PVC and plastic that simply aren’t recyclable. So, in addition to the carbon footprint each tree accumulates throughout the manufacturing and shipping processes, they will also ultimately end up in landfills when they are discarded.
Interestingly, research from the Carbon Trust illustrates that an average artificial Christmas tree that is two metres tall has a 40 kg carbon footprint, which is ten times more than a similarly sized real tree that ends up being burnt after the holiday season. Now, if you were to use your artificial tree 10 times, you would negate this extra carbon footprint, however, research suggests that most artificial trees are only used four times before being discarded.
It is also important to consider that most Christmas trees take between 10 and 12 years to grow, during which time they actively capture carbon and provide important habitats for wildlife. So, by choosing a locally grown real eco Christmas tree this year, you could significantly minimise the carbon footprint of your holiday celebrations. But here are some other things to keep in mind…
Minimising your Christmas Tree’s Carbon Footprint
When it comes to disposing of your real Christmas tree when the holiday festivities are over, there are a few options available to you. Yes, you could throw it on the rubbish heap and forget about it, but as it decomposes it will release methane and will actually end up having a greater footprint than if you were to burn it or send it to be used for wood chips. In fact, burning your Christmas tree will actually reduce its potential emissions by as much as 80% when compared to simply throwing it out.
The great news is that many local authorities provide chipping and collection services, so it’s worth checking in advance whether this is an option for you. Alternatively, you could reuse your tree in a number of creative ways, including making your own firewood, enriching the soil in your garden with pine needles, and even creating enticing habitats for birds and bugs.
You may also want to consider buying a potted Christmas tree, which can be planted outside in your garden to be enjoyed for many years to come once the holiday season has come to a close.
Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Lights
When it comes to decorating your tree and your home, there are many eco-friendly Christmas lights to choose from. We recommend looking for LED Christmas lights, as they use around 90% less energy than an equivalent number of incandescent lights.
If you want to go a few steps further, there are plenty of other mindful choices you can make when decorating your home. One example here is to look out for Christmas lights that have been made from recycled materials. Plus, if you want to decorate outside your home this holiday season, we recommend looking out for solar powered lights that will capture energy from the sun during daylight hours in order to create a beautiful illuminated display during the evenings.
Ultimately, switching to eco-friendly Christmas lights has many benefits, including helping you to save money on your energy bills and minimising your carbon footprint this festive season.
Year-Round Sustainability: Living Clean in Every Season
Starting your sustainability and clean living journey during the festive season can actually be incredibly helpful as you will learn tips and tactics that you can take with you into a brand new year. So, things like finding creative ways to use something you might have otherwise thrown in the bin without a second thought or making mindful lighting choices throughout your home don’t need to be solely reserved for the festive season.
Over time, you might also want to invest in more sustainable energy solutions, which can further minimise your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills. When doing so, it is important to seek out a reputable and experienced company such as Green Flare who provide elegant solar and renewable energy solutions, including solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps.
Now is a great time to start, so why not make this festive season the time you start to incorporate more sustainable and mindful practices into your life? After all, you can have an amazing holiday season that's kinder to the environment simply by making a few straightforward changes.
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