15 Ideas for How to Have a Sustainable Christmas

Christmas is infamously a time of overindulgence. During the festive season, we buy too much, eat too much, and gift too much, all in the spirit of Christmas! 

However, we also tend to waste too much: on average, around Christmas time, there’s an extra 30% of waste, and over 100 million bags of rubbish end up in landfills.

But what if this year could be different? With just a few mindful choices, it’s possible to make more environmentally friendly choices and reduce waste while still enjoying a magical, merry Christmas. 

From sustainable food choices to eco-friendly wrapping and decorating ideas, here’s how to make this year more sustainable without being any less special!

This guide includes: 

15 sustainable Christmas ideas

Celebrating with the environment in mind shouldn’t diminish the magic of the holiday season. Here are 15 simple but effective ideas for a sustainable Christmas. 

Make sustainable food choices

1 - Shop locally 

One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by shopping for local produce. Markets, farm shops, and independent grocers are great places to find fresh, seasonal vegetables and meat. Look out for labels indicating British produce in the supermarkets, too. 

Not only will locally sourced ingredients make your Christmas dinner tastier, but you’ll also be supporting local farmers and reducing carbon emissions by eliminating food miles. 

2 - Only buy as much as you need

Did you know that over 270,000 tons of edible Christmas food is disposed of every year, despite being completely edible? Overbuying in fear of family members going hungry is a common Christmas conundrum. 

Instead of buying more than you can eat, try to plan your holiday meals carefully. Also, make sure you’ve got a plan for any leftovers. Christmas sandwiches or a bubble and squeak are excellent Boxing Day meals to ensure nothing goes to waste.

3 - Avoid excess packaging

Where possible, try to avoid buying produce with excessive packaging. Supermarkets are notorious for their plastic packaging, but you can prevent this by opting for products with minimal or recyclable packaging and bringing your own reusable bags. 

Alternatively, you can shop at eco-friendly stores where you can fill your own containers or buy from local independents, who tend to package their goods more mindfully. Less plastic means a greener Christmas and a cleaner conscience!

Try out sustainable Christmas wrapping ideas

The ridiculousness of spending precious time wrapping presents in single-use paper that gets torn off and binned in seconds isn’t lost on us! Christmas wrapping might be in the spirit of the season, but it’s usually not in the spirit of sustainability. Try these ideas for gift-giving with an eco-friendly twist. 

4 - Use reusable gift bags 

Next time you receive a present in a gift bag, hold onto it and use it again. Not only are they less time-consuming and easier to use than wrapping paper, they’re also much less likely to be thrown away after one use. Chances are, the recipient of your gift will keep your gift bag to reuse next Christmas. As a result, gift bags are the ultimate sustainable wrapping solution. 

5 - Repurpose other types of paper 

Who says gifts need to be wrapped in purpose-made wrapping paper? Old newspapers, brown paper, or even scraps of fabric can be transformed into rustic-style wrapping. Add a bit of twine or a sprig of holly, and you’ve got yourself a gift that’s as charming as it is eco-friendly.

6 - Invest in recycled wrapping paper

Nowadays, many brands are aware of the challenge wrapping paper presents to sustainability. As a result, wrapping made from recycled materials is getting easier to find. Many brands now offer eco-friendly, festive designs that will still make your presents look fantastic under the tree. Choose fully recyclable options with no plastic coatings or glitter for an environmentally conscious option.

Invest in sustainable Christmas decorations

Decking the halls is a highlight of Christmas for families all over the country. Make sure your winter wonderland is as green as it is red and gold by investing in pieces that will last for years. When you buy high-quality decorations from a reputable retailer like Christmas Tree World, you can be sure of a purchase that’s made to last. Where possible, we always pack smaller items inside our tree boxes to reduce packaging waste.

7 - Invest in an artificial Christmas tree

Real Christmas trees have their charms, but for a purchase that’s more eco-friendly in the long run, a high-quality artificial Christmas tree is the way to go. It may cost more upfront, but can you really channel the spirit of sustainability by buying and throwing away a real tree each year? 

Artificial trees look just like the real thing, but they’ll last for years, so you won’t be damaging the environment by cutting down a tree each December. Plus, with our 10-year guarantee on all foliage, you can be sure you’re investing in a product that will stand the test of time. 

8 - Buy high-quality ornaments 

We all love a bargain, but cheap decorations will likely break, rust, or fade sooner. Not only will high-quality ornaments look better, but they’ll also become a household Christmas staple and a sign that Christmas is coming. Our shatterproof decorations are the perfect investment to bring festive spirit to your home year after year. 

9 - Opt for electrical products that will last

When buying Christmas lights or other electrical decorations, like pre-lit trees, choose energy-efficient options, such as LED lights. More importantly, opting for good-quality, long-lasting electrical products - like our pre-lit wreaths and pre-lit garlands - is a sustainable choice. Our electrical products come with a one-year guarantee, giving you peace of mind that your purchase is a worthwhile investment.

Buy sustainable presents

The joy of gift-giving is a highlight of Christmas, but in our desperation to give something over nothing, it’s easy to end up buying things that are forgotten about by Boxing Day. Instead, choose gifts that will be appreciated and are better for the planet.

10 - Make your own gifts 

Why not channel your inner Kirsty Allsopp this year and add a handmade Christmas to your wishlist? Whether it’s a jar of jam, a cake you baked, or a hand-knitted scarf, play to your talents and surprise your loved ones with homemade presents. They’ll often be much more cherished than shop-bought items, and their environmental impact will be lower, too. 

11 - Support local businesses

Doing your Christmas shopping at local independents is generally an environmentally friendly choice. Unique, handmade products that make perfect gifts are a common find at many independent shops. By supporting them, you’re also helping reduce the environmental cost of long-distance shipping.

12 - Buy gifts they’ll actually want 

Maybe it’s easier said than done, but instead of buying something for the sake of it, think carefully about what your friends and family will truly want. This reduces the chances of your gift ending up in the bin before next Christmas. Don’t forget that presents don’t need to be material objects; experience days, weekend trips, or tickets to a show make excellent gifts that you can enjoy together.

Make your own sustainable Christmas decoration ideas

Why not get creative this Christmas and make your own decorations? It’s a fun way to bring the family together, and you’ll end up with unique, personal decorations you can hang with pride year after year.

13 - Make natural Christmas ornaments

Pine cones, sprigs of holly, twigs, dried oranges - nature provides a wealth of beautiful materials that you can use to create Christmas decorations. You can hang these on your tree or use them to create festive centrepieces for your table. They look great, smell amazing, and are entirely compostable when you’re ready to try something new. 

14 - Decorate a plain wreath or garland 

Decorating a plain wreath or garland is a fun crafting activity which the whole family can get involved in. To make a simple Christmas ornament feel special and festive, check out our guides: How to Decorate a Plain Wreath and How to Decorate a Plain Garland. This is a sustainable choice, as you’ll treasure your creation all the more for being handmade and can refresh it each year without needing to buy a new one.

15 - Make your own baubles

Like accidental eco-warriors, many of our parents still hang the baubles we made as kids on their tree year after year. Homemade baubles add a personal touch to your Christmas decor and are sure to win a spot on your tree for many Christmases to come. Read our craft guides for bauble decorating ideas: 6 DIY Bauble Craft Ideas, Paint Your Own Christmas Bauble Ideas, and Fill Your Own Bauble Ideas.

Have a sustainable Christmas with Christmas Tree World

You don’t have to give up the things that make Christmas special to celebrate sustainably. From mindful food choices to handmade decorations and gifts, there are many small switches you can make to have a more environmentally friendly festive season. 

At Christmas Tree World, we’re on a mission to help you reduce seasonal waste. Our artificial trees offer a sustainable alternative to cutting down real trees, our Christmas decorations are built to last, and our Christmas lights are both high-quality and energy-efficient. 

Christmas Tree World has been a longstanding supporter of sustainability projects. Between 2019 and 2023, our sustainability partnership raised over £100,000 for the Borneo Nature Foundation. Plus, thanks to our solar-panelled warehouse, any purchase at Christmas Tree World is a purchase in support of renewable energy.