Tips for a Green Christmas

Spread goodwill to the planet this year by following our tips to make your Christmas more sustainable - make a difference this Christmas!

Recycle, Recycle

Did you know 3 million tonnes of waste is dumped every Christmas in the UK? Many people don't realise just how much can be recycled. Paper, cards, batteries, plastics, bags, jars, bottles, cans and tin foil can all be recycled - see www.recyclenow.com for details.

1 billion Christmas cards are dumped in the UK each year*. Insist on recycled cards and recycle yours, or alternatively send your friends and family a Kew Christmas e-card.

Deck the halls

Use energy-saving LED Christmas lights on your tree (a great money saver too!)

Recycle your Christmas tree at Kew (or Wakehurst Place) - or buy one in a pot so you can use it next year! You can even try making your own Christmas decorations - get the whole family involved.

Gifts galore

Buy recycled wrapping paper and insist on Christmas cards printed on recycled material, and choose ones that support a charity.

Christmas shopping accounts for a fair amount of the 10 billion plastic bags used annually in the UK - most end up in land fill sites, or hedges and our oceans, please remember to take bags with you when shopping.

Choose alternative gifts or make your own. Knit a scarf, bake a cake, bottle some chutney, or try making some jewellery. Visit flea markets, antique shops or charity shops for more unique gifts, or discover eco-friendly clothing made from bamboo and eucalyptus!

And instead of buying something they don't need, why not treat friends or family to an "experience gift" - such as theatre or cinema tickets. Many charities offer also alternative gifts or membership, including Kew.

The Christmas Feast

Choose buy seasonal produce from locally grown food products - visit a local farmers market, or if you live outside the city, your local farm shops.

When buying all the Christmas ingredients, don't forget to take reusable bags to avoid the need for plastic carrier bags.  

And after everyone is full to bursting, compost any unwanted festive food.

Finally, after it's all over...

Recycle your tree at Kew and get a 2for1 voucher - read more

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