How to be more sustainable this Christmas

22 Dec 2021 • 2 minute read

After some of the shocking revelations discussed at COP26 by scientists this year, we have again seen a sharp focus on the environment and humanity’s impact. Like many, we have all made changes to our lifestyle to become more sustainable. So now, as this festive season is well underway, how do we become more sustainable at Christmas?

The sad reality of Christmas is that our modern traditions revolve around single-use plastics that have a massive impact on the environment. Biffa has estimated that around 100 million rubbish bags will end up in a landfill this year. Even worse, making up some of the dumped rubbish is 1 in 10 gifts given in the UK. A UKGVCA (UK Gift Card and Voucher Association) survey found that, on average, the participants in the survey expected to receive at least two unwanted presences at Christmas.

With so many unwanted gifts being given in the modern-day, what do you get for someone who has everything? But, of course, the real question is, do your friends and family want more stuff?

Coined ‘stuffication’ – the overwhelming dread from being surrounded by heaps of your belongings, but how do we choose gifts that are sustainable and benefit the receiver?

That is why we have created a list of ways to be more sustainable and how to put eco-friendly hacks into practice.

• Second hand – Saves on resources, as the saying goes; One man’s trash is another man’s gold. (There are some amazing second-hand gems to be found out there).
• Shop local – Support the local economy, decreasing packaging and transport-related Co2 emissions.
• Make your own – Do not underestimate the power of a homemade gift. Food, candles and decorations are easier to make than you might think. Often homemade gifts have more of a meaningful, heartfelt impact on your recipient.
• ‘adopt don’t chop’ – Over 7 million Christmas trees end up in landfills every year for the sake of the 3 to 4 weeks of the year we use them. Today most retailers who sell Christmas trees will sell trees in a pot to keep outside the rest of the year. Alternatively, you can hire a Christmas tree over the festive period.  All the festivity without the damage or commitment.
• Gift an experience – Experience gift cards offer your friends and family an opportunity to have an experience they may never have had that creates memories that will outlast the latest gadget. 
• A gift for even the most difficult person – Gift a gift card. Allow your recipient to buy their own gift. Often the items that people want are deemed ‘too expensive to ask for’. Gift cards can be combined towards a larger purchase. By allowing the recipient to choose exactly what they want, we can reduce the number of unwanted gifts given, therefore, the amount of waste we create. This Christmas, the smart and environmentally sound gift is a gift card…as long it’s not plastic!
• For a complete guide to sustainable gifting, request our latest Whitepaper - the A to Z of Sustainability 

We hope you have picked up some handy tips for being more sustainable. As we all become more aware of our impact on the environment, each change we make in our lifestyle choices is a positive move towards less waste.

Green Gift Cards promise for the coming year is to continue the fight to remove plastic from the gift, membership, loyalty and contactless card industry. Contact us today if you are interested in switching from plastic and PVC cards to your own environmentally friendly cards.​​​​​