As the Christmas holiday approaches, getting presents for loved ones is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. But, did you know that over 100 million bags of gifts are sent to landfills in the immediate aftermath of Christmas? This happens every year.
It is imperative not only to get presents that your friends and family will keep, but also to buy sustainably. This will not contribute to the waste of the Christmas season. Here are some of our top tips for an eco-friendly Christmas!
Give to charity or buy an experience:
A simple way to ensure an eco Christmas is by investing in experiences and charities, rather than purchasing physical items. It is better for the environment, reducing air miles and in turn, lowering your carbon footprint, also helps others. During the Winter months, many people struggle and by donating to charities during Christmas, you help reduce homelessness and poverty.
You could also ‘gift an experience’, instead of buying a physical gift for them. This could be as simple as gifting them theatre tickets, or could be a travel experience, such as tickets for an exhibition or a holiday. Whether big or small, a gift-giving experience can be a thoughtful Christmas present, without compromising the planet.
Be mindful while choosing presents:
When thinking of what to buy friends and family for Christmas, it is wise to consider if they will like and keep it. Physical gifts can pose a challenge, as they can only become cost-effective and eco-friendly if they are used frequently. Unfortunately, over 20% of gifts are thrown away after Christmas. This figure could be reduced if we took the time to ask family and friends what they would like for Christmas and buy them accordingly.
Buy your gifts from eco-conscious businesses:
Purchasing presents from eco - businesses is an excellent way to ensure a sustainable Christmas. All truly eco - friendly businesses sell only eco products, made with friendly materials and work with fair trade factories. Usually it is also partnered with organisations that work to protect the environmental impact , such as the ‘plant a tree’ initiative.
At Susty Wear, all our products are made from organic cotton and recycled polyester. These materials sustain the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. By using organic cotton in our products, we use 91% less water in our process than businesses using non-organic cotton. We also ‘print-to-order’ to reduce waste and reduce C02 emissions from shipping.
These are just a few ways to ensure a super sustainable Christmas!
What else would you like to know about sustainable fashion? Let us know!