How to enjoy a more sustainable Christmas
At The Collective, sustainability is at the core of everything that we do. As the festive season is just around the corner here are some tips to make your Christmas more sustainable.
By Sophie Cappe, Design and Sustainability Manager, The Collective
GIFTS
Consider where you choose to purchase your gifts. Below are a selection of online stores that offer ethical and sustainable gifts and supplies.
THE GOOD STORE
A mini department-store that focuses on sustainability - this includes products that have less impact on the environment with a focus on reuse and refurbishment.
Pop-up store 23-25 and 27 South Molton Street, London W1K 5RD
CHOOSE LOVE
At The Choose Love store, you can only buy items that will go to refugees and displaced people worldwide. Heating fuel, disability support, washing essentials, blanket and sleeping bags etc. You can buy from yourself or in the name of someone else.
You can buy online or at their shop: 15-17 Foubert's Place, Carnaby St W1F 7QB London
00 THE STORE
A pop-up store showcasing around 80 brands focusing on sustainability. Open until 22nd of December they also host some workshops and panel discussions.
The address is 4 Conduit Street, W1S 2DJ London
WEARTH LONDON
Offering products you can believe in, each product can be listed by which ethical value they fullfil so that you can browse and shop in confidence!
ETHICAL SHOP
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Ethical Shop offer ethically-sourced and fair trade gifts while supporting partner charities and non-profits.
Every Christmas, around 4,000 tonnes of products arrive in the UK by container from China.
BUY LOCAL
Buying local means you will reduce the carbon footprint associated to the transportation of the product but also support small suppliers and makers from the UK
If you don't have many local stores in your area, you can go on Esty and Not on the High Street and select suppliers only located in the UK.
GIFT EXPERIENCE OR MEMBERSHIP
For unforgettable memories, consider an experience for someone special this Christmas.
- Virgin Experience
- Tinggly
- Perhaps an annual membership to a museum or The National Trust
- A magazine subscription
- An organic veggie box such as OddBox ( who rescue wonky & over produced fruit and veg) or Riverford
SECOND HAND / PRELOVED ITEMS
Around 1.2 tonnes of clothing ends up in UK landfill each year.
Consider second hand or preloved clothing as gifts
DIY
And for those feeling creative, why not make a gift - #DIY
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An estimated 5 million puddings, 2 million turkeys and 74 million mince pies go to waste each Christmas.
FOOD
Consider serving some zero-waste recipes for your Christmas dinner table this year. Click here for some yummy recipes
WRAPPING GIFTS
Each year in Britain alone, we throw away enough wrapping paper to circle the globe 9 times
Instead of buying printed wrapping paper why not use:
- Kraft or brown paper, newspaper, old magazines
- Gift bags (and keep them to re-use them on other occasions)
- The good old fashion stocking
- Strings or ribbons instead of stickytape
- Fabric (the Japanese use a gift-wrapping technique called Furoshiki)
RECYCLING TIPS
Sticky tape cannot be recycled and needs to be removed from cardboard box or wrapping paper before putting these in recycling
Christmas cards with glitter, foil or embellishments cannot be recycled and need to go to the regular waste bin
Paper with paint on it (ie: kids pinting) cannot be recycled
Metallic wrapping paper, wrapping paper with glitter or textured finish, wrapping paper with lots of sticked/glued ribbons and bows cannot be recycled
Consider every Christmas purchase decision this year, ensuring it counts in the most important way.
sophie@thecollective.agency
Design and Sustainability Manager.
