Christmas is a season of joy, but let’s be honest, it’s also a season of excess. More food, more packaging, more money spent on things we often don’t need. And while none of us want to play the Christmas Scrooge, what if the biggest trend this year wasn’t buying more, but wasting less?
Imagine a festive season where the only thing we spend more of, is time. Time with family, time for us, time to create memories that last longer than glitter or a ‘novelty’ gift.
Why It Matters
Every December, the UK generates millions of tonnes of extra packaging and food waste. Perfectly good leftovers end up in the bin, wrapping paper floods recycling centres, and gifts bought in haste gather dust before heading to the back of the wardrobe buried or worst still, straight in the bin.
In the UK, waste from textiles and food remains a major environmental challenge. In 2022 alone, 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles were generated, with almost half ending up in general waste, equivalent to around 35 items per person each year. Meanwhile, food waste hits households hard, costing an average of £1,000 annually and driving climate change by adding 16 million tonnes of CO₂ to the atmosphere.
This isn’t just bad for the planet, it’s bad for business and bad for our wallets.
A Circular Christmas
At WRAP, a festive season where resources are valued, reused, and recycled is what we call a Circular Christmas. It’s about keeping materials in use for as long as possible, reducing waste, and creating shared value.
Here’s how to start:
- Choose gifts that last: Experiences that spark joy, quality items built to endure, or even pre-loved treasures with a story to tell. And don’t underestimate the power of time, the most precious gift of all. Because when the wrapping is gone and the glitter fades, what remains are the moments shared, the laughter echoed, and the memories that live on. This Christmas, let’s give gifts that matter because memories don’t end up in the bin.
- Wrap smart: Give your gifts a sustainable twist by reusing what you already have; gift bags, ribbons, and paper or get creative with old maps. Leftover brown packing paper or newspaper also makes a stylish, eco-friendly alternatives. And for the large boxes wrapped in new paper, can you save it for next season, along with Christmas cards to make gift tags?
- Plan your festive feasts: It’s tempting to overbuy and overcook, but planning portions can save money and cut waste. Leftovers aren’t a burden, they’re an opportunity. From homemade butter to creative salads, every ingredient can have a second life. A little thought now means less waste later and a greener, more joyful Christmas. And don’t forget to use your freezer!
- Recycle right: From cardboard boxes to glass bottles, make sure your recycling game is as strong as your Christmas playlist. Why not pop a box in your living room so that all that paper and packaging can be easily collected and popped out when it’s time for your Christmas waste collection.
This year, I asked my son for something different, a jar of vouchers. Each one promises something money can’t buy: tidying his room, making me a cup of tea in the morning, or simply cuddles together.
And with my sister in Australia, we’ve agreed to skip extravagant gifts. Instead, we’ve chosen things we truly need and will use. She chose herself an easel for her art, and I chose a crock pot I’ve been wanting for bread baking. For me it makes it even more meaningful.
The Challenge
What if the best gift we give this Christmas isn’t under the tree? What if it’s a future where resources are valued, not wasted? This isn’t about cancelling Christmas, it’s about making it last. Every item reused, meals planned, food used up not wasted and every piece of packaging recycled to help protect the planet we all share.
Let’s make this Christmas circular, because generosity shouldn’t cost the Earth.