Each Christmas 100 million rubbish bags are sent to landfill, 50,000 trees are cut down and two million turkeys are thrown away. It is fair to say having a sustainable Christmas can be a challenge, but it does not need to be.

Kent Wildlife Trust believes that the festive season can be celebrated with nature in mind and is setting residents of Kent the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint this festive season.

1. Choose your gifts wisely

One in five gifts make their way into the landfill each year. So, it’s time to think of gifts our loved ones are more likely to keep, can be recycled or composted. How about baking, canning, pickling, jamming or fermenting for your gifts? Alternatively, you can buy low impact clothes that can easily be recycled from shops such as ours, gift a year’s membership with the Trust or gift an experience day like a safari with Kent Wildlife Trust. Or if you just can’t decide what to gift the nature lover in your life, try making a donation to a charity instead – a gift that can’t be thrown away! For the younger ones, consider purchasing an adopt a species pack. Your purchase not only goes directly into crucial conservation work, but you also receive a sustainably sourced cuddly toy made from recycled materials.

2. Make your own decorations

As well as being a great way to spend a cold winter evening with the family, making a Christmas wreath from all natural materials can reduce the use of plastic waste. We have a handy guide here to making a Christmas wreath bird feeder.

3. You could also make your own tree decorations.

The Romney Marsh Visitor Centre will be holding a family crafting workshop to learn how to create eco-friendly Christmas decorations. At Tyland Barn, bring the family to create a nature inspired lantern to use as we head off to explore the grounds on a seasonal trail. After warming up by the campfire with a hot chocolate, you’ll get to take your lantern home to use as a Christmas decoration.

4. Get creative with your Christmas Tree

When it comes to the tree, fake Christmas trees carry a higher carbon footprint, so make a point to continue using it each year if you already have one. If you opt for a real tree, ensure you purchase it from a sustainable source (look for Grown-in-Britain certified). If it’s potted or rented it can last a lifetime. If you do dispose of it, do so by mulching or wood-chipping to reduce the methane released during decomposition into the atmosphere.

5. Go LED with your Christmas lights

If you’re buying new Christmas lights, look for LED bulbs. Not only can you save money on the running costs but you use 90% less energy too!

6. Think about food waste

“At Christmas, an incredible 5 million Christmas puddings, 2 million turkeys, and 74 million mince pies succumb to the scrap heap while still edible” says Commercialwaste. You can help by planning ahead, only buying what’s needed and re-using leftovers. To make Christmas even more sustainable, think about going meat-free and opting for a nut roast instead! You could also consider shopping local to avoid food miles. Often local markets are a great way of avoiding plastic-wrapped fruit and veg too.

7. Get eco-friendly wrapping paper

Around 227,000 miles of Christmas wrapping paper is thrown away every year – much of it isn’t recyclable.  Wrapping paper can easily be reused next year if you unwrap neatly, and by cutting the picture part off the cards you received, you can make lovely gifts tags for free!

Opt-out of using glittery, shiny wrapping paper which contain plastics, foil and other additives which can be hard to separate from the paper making it unrecyclable. Instead go for plain wrapping paper such as brown parcel paper.

8. Re-use or re-sell your Christmas Jumper

If you’re not up for wearing the same crazy design again, look to places like Ebay and Vinted to create a circular economy and make sure that your Christmas jumper can continue being worn for years to come. Not a fan of that jumper your great uncle bought you? Leave the tag on and gift it on during the year to someone else or donate it to a charity shop.

9. Focus on family time

There’s pressure to feel the urge to consume over Christmas but the holiday season is really all about spending time with our loved ones. Agree to buy less presents and just enjoy each other’s company. If everyone agrees to have a less consumerist Christmas it can be very liberating and reduce the stress associated with pressure of buying presents, especially when many are worrying about the bank balance.

10. Don’t forget wildlife

Don’t forget that wildlife will also need your help this winter. Put bird feed out in your gardens, crack the ice on the pond, fill the bird bath and leave piles of leaves undisturbed for hedgehogs to hibernate under. You can find more advice on helping wildlife this winter in another blog.

Happy Christmas!