Making sustainable choices to save money this holiday season

In the UK we produce 30% more waste than usual over the festive period. The numbers are staggering - 1 billion cards sent, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper, 6 million Christmas trees thrown away and 17.2 million sprouts wasted! 

We know things can be hectic at this time of year, so if you’re looking for ways to make your life easier and save money while helping the planet, check out our festive top tips below: 

Reduce your food waste 

• Almost a third of us admit to throwing away more food over the festive period than at any other time of the year, with 11% of us buying food that has gone off and been binned before Christmas Day. Portion planning and using your trusty freezer is the key to bringing your food bill down. This handy Christmas Dinner portion planner from BBC GoodFood calculates how much food is needed for up to 14 people.  

Use your freezer to save any leftover food that you’re not going to eat, such as bread or half-used packets of ham and cheese. Stock up on freezer- friendly foods to ensure you always have the amount you need in case of unexpected guests, but without the waste! 

• Don't forget that any peelings, scraps and plate scrapings can go in your food waste bin, along with tea bags, coffee grounds and bones. 

To wrap or not to wrap? 

• Did you know that any embellished or metallic wrapping paper can’t be recycled? That includes any paper with sellotape or tags on too. Opt for something that can be recycled, such as using newspaper or brown paper that you can decorate yourself. If in doubt about whether your wrapping paper can be recycled, use the scrunch test - scrunch the paper into a ball and let go, if the paper stays scrunched then it can be recycled.
• Instead of wrapping paper this year, you could use a lovely scarf as part of the gift and try the art of gift wrapping Furoshiki style, or use a nice gift bag that can be reused time and time again. 

Christmas Jumpers and Party Outfits

• Do you buy a new Christmas jumper every year? One in three people aged 35 or under do, leading to a whopping 65 million Christmas jumpers stashed in our wardrobes. Swapping with friends and family, buying from a charity shop or temporarily transforming a jumper you already own are just a few ways to cut down on cost and unnecessary consumption, as per Love Not Landfill. 
• Apps such as Vinted, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are fantastic places to find the perfect outfit for your next event. Whether it’s a sequin dress for your work party or a Santa Claus fancy dress costume for Christmas Day, buy quality items second hand at a fraction of the price. 

Recycling  

• The festive period comes with a lot of packaging. Take 10 seconds to double check what you can and can’t recycle in Sutton, especially if you use communal waste bins. This helps us ensure that we can recycle as much as possible and avoid contamination. Glass jars and plastic containers should be rinsed and cardboard must be clean and dry, with large boxes packed down. 

Give a gift they’ll appreciate

• Buying gifts for friends and family soon adds up. Why not reduce costs by doing Secret Santa instead, or give them an IOU? Offering to babysit, cooking their favourite dinner, taking their kids off their hands for the day or spending time doing their favourite hobby can be thoughtful and much more appreciated than yet another novelty mug. Perfect for that person who has everything! 

Recycling your tree

• Trees will be collected for free as recycling from your kerbside from 8 January 2024. Please ensure it doesn’t block the pavement. If you see any trees that are blocking pedestrian access on the pavement, report them as fly tipping here. After the free collections have finished, you will need to take your tree as garden waste to the HRRC. 
• Choose a sustainably-source certified real tree and recycle it or invest in a quality reusable one to use time and time again. An artificial tree can be a good option if it is re-used for up to ten years. Or if a real tree is your preference, be sure to buy from a local environmentally friendly supplier and recycle it to reduce carbon emissions. 

Remember that there may be changes to your collection days over the festive period, so make sure to double check your collection calendar.