How to reduce plastic waste and become more sustainable this Christmas
Around 57.8 million people celebrate Christmas in the UK, making it the biggest seasonal event in the country. Amongst gifts, cards, decorations, food, and parties, Christmas waste is responsible for 15 times the amount of waste than any other celebration. Unwanted gifts are also a huge contributor to plastic waste. Approximately 21 million people received a gift they didn’t want last Christmas, with the majority of these being thrown away rather than regifted, resold, or given to charity.One way that households can limit their plastic use is through the wrapping paper they use. Most festive wrapping paper contains plastic, making it impossible to recycle and ending up in the bin. Households become overwhelmed with the amount of wrapping paper they use, with enough thrown away in the UK alone to stretch as far as the Moon. A sustainable wrapping option includes brown paper and string, which can be safely recycled to reduce plastic waste. Furthermore, old fabric can be used for a unique take on wrapping presents. For paper that is unrecyclable, it can be cut up and saved for household purposes. Another option is to opt for plastic-free gifts. Many presents, mainly children’s toys, are made of and are stored in plastic packaging.