Deck the halls with ‘plastic-free’ decorations
Over the past year the damaging effect on marine life and the environment caused by single-use plastic has been placed firmly under the spotlight.
With Christmas a time of plastic excess, with everything from food packaging to Christmas presents made from non-biodegradable and non-recyclable material, here are a few suggestions to cut down on plastic waste and make your Christmas a bit more environmentally friendly.
Wool baubles
Instead of sprucing up the tree with PVC tinsel why not consider baubles and decorations made from 100% wool like this Fairtrade Hand Made Lime & Cerise Wool Stars Design Hanging Decoration. Meanwhile, this decorative ball hanger featuring a Chunky knit finish, with felt trim offers a wonderful natural feel to your decorations.
Go wooden
Simple wooden decorations create a brilliant natural rustic theme and are better for the environment too. You will find a wide selection of wooden decorations on the ChristmasTimeUK website, from these wonderfully stylish Wooden Flower Snowflakes to playful characters such as this Wooden Jumping Jack hanging decoration which the kids will love.
Paper decorations
Decorations made from recycled paper create a great traditional look and will stand out with their natural appearance. This rotund freestanding reindeer ornament with antler, ear and feet trim, won’t fail to put a smile on your face too! This handmade patterned heart garland is a wonderful addition to a more eco-friendly display.
Consider glass
Glass decorations add a touch of class and elegance to any tree and are a better option to plastic as will last forever, as long as you store them correctly. At ChristmasTimeUK we have a huge collection of glass baubles, including decorative kitsch collectors’ baubles like this novelty Inge-glass cappuccino cup to glass baubles in nearly every colour imaginable. These clear glass baubles are a best-seller and provide the flexibility to change the filling so you can create your own designs.
Card decorations
Who doesn’t love receiving a Christmas card from family and friends? Unfortunately, most cards on the market are finished with a plastic laminate finish and over 1.5 billion are thrown away each year. A great way to go plastic-free when sending festive wishes is to send a card via email. There are loads of great designs and the addition of animations brings them to life!
Create your own
If you’ve any Christmas cards from last year tucked away in a drawer, why not you cut out the festive designs and create your own?
Think zero waste too
While the impact of plastic on the environment has been highlighted, it doesn’t mean you should immediately throw all of the plastic decorations in the bin. You should also adopt a zero waste approach, that means looking after your current decorations so they last longer.
Investing in high-quality decorations may cost a bit more money but when you factor in that they will last for years to come, and won’t need replacing each year, they will save you money and cut your plastic footprint.