BEING GREEN IN THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
Following on from my previous article on Environmentally Friendly Christmas Interiors, I’ve got a few more tips to share. In this article, we’re focusing on gift wrapping, Christmas dinner and getting ready for the New Year.
Green Gift Wrapping
You can pick whatever colour or pattern of wrapping paper or gift bag, but the trick to going green is to ensure it is 100% recyclable. Firstly, avoid shiny, foiled or glitter papers, as these can’t be recycled. Secondly, look for the FSC® tick tree logo, which evidences that the paper is sustainably sourced.
With your pressies and paper at the ready, you don’t want to compromise your efforts with plastic sticky tape. There are alternatives including plain or printed paper tape, washi tape and gifts tied with twine. Alternatively, you could opt for reusable gift containers including fabric tote bags and stockings or glass jars, decorated with a ribbon.
A family tradition of ours, that I know others share, is to cut present labels from the previous year’s Christmas cards. Another option is to buy plain parcel labels, or hole-punch strips of card, and decorate them. You could use a stamp to print a design or draw a simple star, tree, Santa hat or stocking.
On the big day, have a bag at the ready for the recyclable wrapping paper, then it can go straight into the right bin.
A Sustainable Christmas Dinner
The great thing about a traditional Christmas Dinner is that it relies on seasonal vegetables. Spuds, carrots, sprouts, parsnips, red cabbage and leeks can all be grown for harvesting in winter. As a result, it is possible to buy locally-grown produce with no air miles. What’s more, local farmers are less likely to package the veg in plastic. Equally, your turkey or chosen joint is best sourced from a local, ethical farmer.
The biggest issue with Christmas dinner is what’s left over. Many of us cook more than we can eat, but with some good recipes up your sleeve, there is no need for waste.
Table Settings for Christmas Dinner
It’s easy to go overboard with the table decorations at Christmas and have little room for the turkey and all the trimmings. In my bid for sustainability, I encourage you not to buy lots of extra stuff for the table. As mentioned in my previous article, natural foliage, displayed as a centrepiece or in a vase can look fantastic. In addition, use paper napkins and place name cards to build your colour scheme.
A Mix & Match Christmas Table
At Christmas, you may have more guests than usual for dinner. If you haven’t got enough crockery, cutlery or glasses don’t buy a new set. It will only clutter up the cupboards for the next 364 days! Instead, ask a guest to bring what you need or borrow from a friend. The same applies to chairs.
This approach means you’ll have a mix-and-match design. Embrace it! Let’s remember that bringing everyone together is the priority. Have a look on Pinterest for some good examples of mixing things up. Also, no one will complain if you serve the turkey on an aluminium tray and once clean, it can be reused or recycled.
Post-Christmas New Year Preparations
Your decorations can last for many years if you carefully pack them up. If there are any items that you’ve not used for a few years, donate them to a charity shop, along with any unwanted gifts. It’s also a good idea to add your favourite leftover recipes to the Christmas box, then it’s at hand next year!
If you had a real tree, arrange for it to be collected for chipping. Local scout groups sometimes offer this service. Dispose of foliage used in your natural wreath in the compost bin and consider refreshing the contents of a table vase with fresh cuttings from the garden.
When all the decorations are cleared away, my home seems so much more spacious! Before returning the furniture to its original position, consider if there is a better option. Could a different layout increase the sense of space or improve the flow through the room? My interior design advice or consultancy services could help you resolve issues and visualise the space from a fresh perspective. That could get your New Year off to a good start!