With the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit continuing to put pressure on supply chains and costs to consumers, there has never been a better time to consider a greener Christmas and making small changes that can have a big impact on our environment.
As we prepare for the festive season, Ireland’s Climate Pact Ambassadors are encouraging you to take your own small step this Christmas.
To help you on your way, Irish sustainability influencers and climate ambassadors share their top tips on giving your Christmas a ‘green glow'.
Consider where your gifts are coming from
According to Sharon Keilthy, Climate Ambassador and CEO of Jiminy Eco-Toys, there are great gift options for children which can be sourced closer to home.
"90% of a product's carbon footprint is the material it's made from. Unless it says otherwise, most plastic is to be avoided – if it's virgin (new) and made from petroleum, it probably has a huge carbon footprint."
"Luckily there are more products on the market from materials to feel good about - like plants or recycled materials. Plants absorb carbon as they grow - so wood, cardboard, and many bioplastics like 'Green PE' really help our climate and usually have a much smaller carbon footprint."
"The other 10% of a product's footprint is transport. For example, 80% of toys are made in China, travelling about 22,000km to us by sea, using a lot of fossil fuels to power that trip."
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Being conscious with your festive wardrobe
Fionnuala Moran, presenter and sustainability influencer, says that there are plenty of ways to get dressed up for the party season (even if it is on Zoom) without hurting the environment.
"Try swapping Christmas jumpers or outfits with friends or family to freshen up our festive wardrobes. Lots of charity shops are well-stocked with great geansaí Nollaig, so buying second-hand and supporting a good cause is a brilliant option.
"If you feel you need to buy something new, try to buy less and better quality. Ask yourself how many times you could wear it throughout the winter period and whether you'll still love it next year too? This is a handy way to dodge micro trends which are designed to go out of fashion rapidly.
"The most sustainable fashion is what we already own, so scour your wardrobe to see if you can dig out a long-forgotten classic and give it new life this festive season."
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Plan ahead and reduce Christmas food waste
Gráinne Ryan, Country Coordinator for the Climate Pact and Climate Action Officer at An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit suggests taking a different approach to food.
"A really good way of avoiding food waste is to tackle your food shop with a plan. Make a conscious commitment to cut food waste and try to eat more of a plant-based diet this year.
"A list is a great starting point so that when we go to the supermarket, we’re thinking about what local and seasonal vegetables we can buy and how we’re going to use them – what to make with the leftovers, utilising skins, stalks and peels for stock or soup, or going completely meat free and trying something new."
Get involved and join in the latest Climate Pact initiative by hosting a Peer Parliament with your friends or family this Christmas. Click here for more info.
