Say Oh Yes! to a sustainable holiday season
In the words of the famous song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time of joy, warmth and giving. But it’s also a time when consumerism peaks, leading to a negative impact on the environment.
So, with the festive season in full swing, we’re sending season’s greetings to all our Oh Yes! Net Zero members…together with our tips for celebrating more sustainably.
1. Low-carbon gifting
Choose gifts that are eco-friendly and have a lower carbon footprint, such as experiences, restaurant vouchers, digital gifts, reusable products or items made from recycled materials.
Shopping locally – or, even better, buying goods made locally – reduces the emissions associated with shipping, while buying Fairtrade or B Corp-certified products supports businesses that are committed to sustainability and ethical practices.
When it’s time to wrap your gifts, use recyclable or reusable materials like fabric, old newspaper or gift bags from last year. Avoid glossy or metallic wrapping paper, which is difficult to recycle.
2. Eco-friendly decorations
Resist the urge to buy new tinsel or more plug-in lights and opt instead for natural decorations like pinecones, holly and poinsettias.
Get the kids involved in crafting creative decorations from recycled materials or items found around the home. You’ll find lots of great ideas online, like this list of zero waste DIY decorations.
3. Thoughtful food options
Each year a staggering seven million tonnes of food is estimated to end up in UK bins – so to avoid adding to it, plan your festive meals with a view to minimising waste.
Use leftovers as the basis of the next day’s meals, or freeze them for future use where possible.
You can also reduce the carbon footprint of your meals by choosing plant-based or vegetarian options, and/or seasonal, locally sourced produce.
Don’t forget to compost any food scraps – putting them in your usual bin means they’ll end up in landfill.
4. Reduce travel emissions
Walk, bike or take public transport to visit family and friends wherever you can – or, if you’re making the most of time off work by escaping from the UK for some winter sun, consider offsetting the flight emissions through a legitimate carbon offset scheme that invests in renewable energy or reforestation projects.
5. Celebrate in a pre-loved outfit
This time of year means lots of opportunities to socialise – and wearing second-hand outfits to parties or get-togethers is a great way to cut your carbon footprint.
Charity shops are full of quality clothes and accessories and buying from them, rather than the usual high street retailers, will save you money while benefiting good causes.
Other environmentally-friendly options for clothes shopping are apps like Depop and Vinted – and they don’t just sell women’s clothes; there are lots of options for men and kids too, many of them brand-new and unworn.
Thank you for your support over the past year to show how Hull and the Humber region is taking action to achieve Net Zero.
We hope the tips above inspire you to make small changes to your holiday habits that will collectively add up to a significant positive impact.