CChristmas is coming up, but this year there should be less wrapping paper and less food in the bin as consumers plan to be more environmentally friendly. A Tesco survey found that more than a third of people want to be more sustainable, and research from American Express suggests we’re happy to spend more on gifts that are “green.”
Michelle Ovens, founder of the Small Business Britain campaign group, says some consumers are now deciding to move away from big Black Friday-style discounts. “Consumers are looking for more value, and not just goods at any price, because that price could be the environment,” he says.
So how can you change your usual shopping habits for more sustainable ones?
Use independent stores
One way is to stick to local independent stores. As Sian Conway-Wood, author of Buy better, consume lessThis allows money to stay in the local economy, he says, and leads to a more considerate approach to spending, rather than responding to marketing from large retailers.
“The culture this is creating is one of overconsumption. There’s the idea that we want everything now, but to stop and break that sense of urgency, because that’s a marketing tactic they use, you’ll find that if you can’t get it tomorrow, do you still want it? ,” she says.
There are many websites that sell products from a variety of independent sites with ethical priorities, so you don’t need to waste time tracking down different vendors.
“There are hundreds of little independents who sell through marketplaces like eBay, Etsy and ourselves,” says James Service of Protect the Planet, a retailer of recycled and eco-friendly gift items. “Choosing to buy through these larger markets can protect the consumer [against buying unsustainable products] while supporting independent manufacturers. “
In the area of health and beauty, Detox Market describes itself as a “green beauty market” with cruelty-free standards. Their “box of the best of green beauty”, which includes mascara, hair mask, serum, cleanser, eyeshadow palette and other products, costs £ 155.
A set of five products from True Botanicals, a ‘non-toxic’ skincare line, is priced at £ 130. Plastic Freedom specializes in plastic-free products such as a beard maintenance kit (£ 44) and a kitchen utensil and product set (£ 61). Greenbeauty Market sells vegan, natural and organic products and says it only works with independent brands.
For clothing, Social Supermarket works with 100 different companies that are evaluated on their social and environmental standards. Ethical Superstore aims to find alternatives to everyday fashion items and has a code of conduct for suppliers.
With mobile phones a frequent gift, Fairphone is a sustainable alternative to big brands. Its latest model costs £ 499. The company’s goal is to make phones from materials sourced in the most ethical way possible and that can be easily disassembled and repaired.
“Greenwashing,” in which companies make misleading claims about their environmental credentials, is a growing problem, according to Service. “Buy from a reputable retailer that specializes in this area.”
Ethical consumer The magazine rates companies based on their environmental and sustainable credentials. It’s also worth looking for the B Corp accreditation, which is awarded to companies that meet a set of environmental standards.
Buy pre-used
The rise of the circular economy, the idea that products like clothing and furniture are constantly being reused and regenerated to reduce pollution, has spawned new ways of buying used clothing.
Online charity retailer Thrift + takes clothing donations and sells them online, with part of the proceeds going to charities. A two-piece Paul Smith suit is available for just over £ 30 and a Hugo Boss jacket for £ 22.
Oxfam’s online store has an LK Bennett women’s heavyweight wool coat for 45 pounds and a Burberry men’s blazer for 75 pounds.
The homeless charity shelter has a network of 100 stores. Online, it features some high-end designer goods, notably a pair of Stella McCartney platform shoes for £ 150.
Don’t stock up, buy fewer things
The most sustainable way to approach Christmas is to simply buy fewer things, if at all. “The most sustainable option is that we don’t buy,” Conway-Wood said.
One way is through “experiences”, whether they are tickets to events, days out or classes. Virgin is organizing ‘experience days’, from making botanical extracts from a wildflower meadow (£ 50) to an urban beekeeping session in London (£ 84).
Instead of plastic, he chose flower pots.
In addition to gifts under the tree, many other traditions can also be done in a more sustainable way.
The Woodland Trust says the greenest Christmas tree is the one with roots, which can be planted in the garden and brought back for next year. If you are purchasing a felled tree, it must be accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which tells you that it has been grown in a sustainable and ethical manner.
Another option is to rent a tree, which is replanted by the provider throughout the year. One plan, Rental Claus from Primrose Vale Farm Shop in Cheltenham, delivers and collects the tree, with prices ranging from £ 15 to £ 45.
Stacks of wrapping paper will inevitably end up in the bin, so consumers need to be vigilant about what can be recycled. Avoid anything that has glitter, foil, or has plastic on it.
An expensive option, but even more environmentally friendly, is to buy seed-embedded tissue paper that can be planted in the garden; sheets are available on Etsy for £ 18.84 for three.
Don’t binge eat less
While turkey is the mainstay of the Christmas dinner, there are concerns about how deforestation-related soybeans are used as livestock feed. The vast majority of soy is grown in Argentina and Brazil, where there are risks of deforestation as a result of its production, as well as in the United States.
Tim Martin of the non-profit Farm Wilder says consumers aspiring to a sustainable Christmas would be better off choosing UK venison from the wild. There is a need to euthanize deer at this time, he says. At £ 20 for 1.5kg, it’s reasonably priced.
The RSPCA has issued warnings against buying “reindeer food” to sprinkle in the backyard on Christmas Eve. Commercially purchased packages often contain plastics or glitter that are harmful to wildlife. Instead, making your own with seeds and oats will do the trick. Or just skip a carrot.