50 Days Until Christmas 2015

With 50 days until Christmas 2015 we’re republishing our previous article that showed you how you can have a green, clean, sustainable Christmas. As always the best advice is to buy less stuff and spend more time with the people you love. Seriously, no one wishes they had more shiny disposable stuff at the end of life.

Photo: Christmas Night by David Blackwell via Flickr

Research from YouGov in December 2014 suggested that Christmas spending year-on year would be flat, with British households spending £821 on average, a slight decrease of £1 on last year. This was made of £604 on gifts, £174 on food and drink and £43 on cards, trees and decorations.

YouGov’s Christmas spending intentions survey suggested the UK’s total intended festive spend would be around £22.5 billion, slightly up on 2013’s £22.3 billion. This was mainly driven by an increase in the adult population of the UK rather than an increase in consumers’ willingness to spend.

While the soundest advice is to consume a lot less and support a charity (or pre-order 10 copies of Jeremy Leggett’s, Winning the Carbon War book, proceeds to SolarAid).

Here’s the top tip articles for having a greener, cleaner, more sustainable Christmas.

Nigel’s eco store: Nigel’s Top 10 tips for a Green, Sustainable and Eco Friendly Christmas

Here’s my top 10 Green Christmas tips that’ll help you to save money, reduce your Christmas carbon footprint and have a more eco friendly and sustainable noel. Read more.

Ethical Consumer: An Ethical Christmas

Looking for some ethical Christmas gift ideas? Then look no further. We round up some of the most ethical present ideas covered in our product guides. Read more.

Earth easy: How to have a ‘green’ Christmas

During the season of celebration we need to show extra care for the environment. Christmas doesn’t have to be a burden on the environment. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season.  Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while caring for the earth. Read more.

The Guardian: A-Z of tips for a green Christmas

Christmas doesn’t have to be a time of excess if you follow a few simple steps, writes Jessica Aldred. Read more.

The Guardian:  Everything you need for a green Christmas

From minimising your waste to DIY decorations, here is environmentguardian.co.uk’s ultimate guide to a greener Christmas. Read more.

Creating a Green Christmas: 30+ Ideas to Keep It Eco-Friendly

According to Andy Williams, it’s “the most wonderful time of the year”. But unless it’s a Green Christmas you’re planning, it’s also the most wasteful, consumer-driven and stressful time. But it doesn’t have to be! With a little knowledge, some family discussion and a change of focus, it’s easy to turn a few Christmas ideas into a holiday with more meaning than “stuff”. Whether it’s a religious holiday for you or not, Christmas celebrations should have meaning. Celebrate that and the holiday will remain eco-friendly. Read more.