Climate column: Are you getting ready for Christmas?
Christmas events are well under way in our borough, bringing together family and friends, with fun, love and laughter.
With Light Up Leigh last weekend, Light Night and Frost Fest this week, the Wigan town centre Christmas Artisan Markets starting this weekend, Haigh Hall’s Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday, Artisan Christmas Markets at Pennington Flash next weekend and more, there is lots happening across our borough.
Christmas is a season of joy, love, and giving - but let’s be honest, it can also bring pressure to go big: lavish meals, mountains of gifts, and endless decorations. While it feels festive, this excess often comes at a cost, both to our wallets and the planet.
The Hidden Impact of Christmas Waste
Every year in the UK, millions and millions of tonnes of waste are created every year during Christmas, for example it’s been estimated that:
- More than three black bags worth of Christmas packaging are thrown away by every household, every year.
- Eight million real Christmas trees are binned.
- The amount of card- cards and packaging- used over the Christmas period could cover Big Ben 260,000 times.
- Around 1 million pigs in blankets, 1 billion Christmas cards and 108 million rolls of wrapping paper end up in the bin each year.
Overbuying and overcooking can cost families hundreds of pounds and create unnecessary waste. And this has costs for the planet too- the energy and materials to create all these things, and then to get rid of them again afterwards, especially if they can’t be or aren’t recycled.
Why It Matters Now
Finding ways to celebrate without overspending, or harming the planet, has never been more important. The good news? Small, conscious choices can make a big difference.
Simple Ways to Make Christmas Greener
1. Rethink Gift Giving
- Prioritise experiences: Time together, games, or cooking as a family often mean more than material gifts.
- Wrap sustainably: Use fabric, recyclable wrapping paper, or reusable gift bags instead of single-use paper and plastic.
- Get creative: Handmade gifts and decorations add a personal touch and reduce waste.
2. Decorate with Care
- Choose reusable decorations or natural options like pine cones and greenery.
- Switch to energy-efficient LED lights to cut energy use.
3. Reduce Food Waste
A family of four throws away around £1,000 worth of food each year. Plan meals carefully, buy only what you need, store food properly, and throw your scraps in your green bin for composting. For tips, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
The Bigger Picture
By making small changes to our festive traditions, we can significantly reduce our environmental impact. It’s a collective effort- individuals, businesses, and communities all play a role. Let’s make this Christmas joyful, sustainable, and meaningful.
A greener Christmas isn’t about doing less- it’s about doing things differently. Together, we can create a holiday season that’s kinder to the planet and easier on our wallets.