Holiday countdown day 17: Sustainable swaps for winter gifting

Wrapping gifts

• Glittery and shiny wrapping paper is often not recyclable. Instead opt for recycled brown paper. You can buy reasonably priced rolls and use your creative flair to add details including ribbon, string, drawings or stamps to add a personal touch to your presents.

Gifting

• It can be overwhelming when you have a lot of people to buy for, and oftentimes we can begin to run out of ideas and resort to novelty gifts for the sake of it. Instead, have a conversation with the people you buy for about what they would like to receive, setting budgets and opting for second-hand or plastic-free gifts where possible. Who knows, maybe everyone (including yourself!) would prefer to go for a meal than receive a gift.
• Vinted and Ebay are great places to pick up pre-loved items, or if you're a crafty person, maybe a range of homemade gifts would go down a stom this year? Food gifts like cookies, flavoured oils and fudge could go down a treat, or maybe personalised photo frames, crocheted items or a scrapbook is more up your street.
• Try to buy from local or independent shops to support your local economy.

Cards

• A great way to use Christmas cards you have been sent is to turn them into gift tags for the following year! Not only is it a great way to be more sustainable, but it saves buying tags for the next season!

Decorations

• Instead of buying new plastic baubles or hangings, maybe try making some. This could include dried fruit garlands, salt dough shapes, popcorn threads or paper chains – it's a great activity to get children involved with as well!
• Be concious of the crackers you're purchasing and opt for more sustainable options, you can even make your own if the creativity strikes!

Whatever you decide to do this winter, try to embrace more sustainable options where possible! Our Environmental and Sustainability Working Group are working hard to ensure the Association is following its own advice and making environmentally friendly improvements wherever possible!

Tell us in the comments some of the ways you've made more sustainable choices in your life.