6 Easy Tips for a Sustainable Christmas

Millions of cards, trees and gifts thrown away across the UK every December, yet much of this waste is avoidable.

As the Christmas season approaches, many of us are looking for simple ways to enjoy a more sustainable Christmas. With a few quick choices, you can easily reduce Christmas waste, and CIRQLR’s new 6 part mini video series breaks it down in moments. Each short clip gives you one easy action you can take to reduce, reuse, and recycle and this Christmas.

1. How to Reduce Christmas Waste When Gifting 

Gifting doesn’t have to mean more stuff. Each year, an estimated £42 million worth of presents are thrown away. CIRQLR’s first mini video in the series looks at how simple, thoughtful choices can reduce Christmas waste and make a more sustainable Christmas. 

A great gift isn’t always something you can wrap, and this video shows why.

2. Eat Seasonal Veg for a More Sustainable Christmas Dinner 

Not all vegetables on the supermarket shelves at Christmas are grown in the UK over winter. Choosing UK seasonal produce can lower your Christmas carbon footprint and support a more sustainable Christmas. 

Many people are surprised to learn which vegetables are actually in season, and CIRQLR’s mini video explains what to look for when planning your Christmas dinner shop. 

3. What To do With Old Christmas Cards

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with old Christmas cards, you’re not alone. Every year, around one billion Christmas cards are thrown away in the UK, the equivalent of roughly 33 million trees.  

Instead of sending them straight to the bin, CIRQLR’s third mini video explores a simple, creative way to reuse old Christmas cards, helping to reduce Christmas waste and give cards a second life. 

4. Rent a Christmas Tree for a More Sustainable Christmas

If you’d like to make more eco-friendly choices this Christmas, one of the simplest sustainable Christmas tree ideas is to rent a Christmas tree. DEFRA highlights that the UK throws away around eight million Christmas trees every year. When they aren’t reused or recycled, many end up in landfills, costing the UK an estimated £22 million. 

CIRQLR’s mini video explores how renting, reusing or responsibly recycling your tree can reduce Christmas waste and support a more sustainable Christmas. 

5. Can You Recycle Wrapping Paper? 

Every Christmas, the UK uses enough wrapping paper to cover the island of Guernsey, but can you recycle wrapping paper? A quick scrunch test can help you spot foil- or plastic-based paper.

CIRQLR’s mini video shows what to look for when recycling wrapping paper this Christmas. 

6. Christmas Recycling Quiz for Common Festive Waste

It’s easy to feel unsure about Christmas recycling. WRAP says fewer than one in ten people in the UK feel very confident about what can and can’t be recycled. This means a lot of everyday festive waste ends up in the wrong bin. 

CIRQLR’s final mini video turns this confusion into a quick “can you recycle it?” quiz, using everyday items to show what people often get wrong. 

FAQ:

Can you recycle Christmas wrapping paper?

Many wrapping papers can be recycled, but foil, glitter and laminated paper cannot. Use the “scrunch test” if it stays scrunched, it can usually be recycled.

Is it more sustainable to rent a Christmas tree?

Yes. Renting a Christmas tree is usually more sustainable because the tree is kept alive, replanted, and reused each year, which reduces waste and lowers the environmental impact compared to buying a cut tree annually.

Can Christmas cards be recycled?

Yes, as long as they don’t contain glitter, metallic finishes, or plastic attachments. Plain cards and envelopes can go in your paper recycling.

How can I reduce food waste at Christmas?

To reduce food waste at Christmas you should plan meals, use leftovers creatively, and store foods properly. Seasonal produce has a lower footprint and offers fresher taste.

Can CIRQLR help businesses with Christmas waste?

Yes. It's extremely common for businesses to end up with excess waste during the Christmas Season such as extra packaging, cardboard, food waste and more.

CIRQLR helps businesses deal with seasonal waste efficiently and sustainably through solutions tailored to their local area.

Find a solution for your business this Christmas >

Conclusion 

It only takes a few small actions to be more sustainable at Christmas. Gifting intentionally, eating seasonally, reusing old cards, choosing a rental tree and sorting festive recycling properly all help reduce Christmas waste. CIRQLR’s six quick videos show how simple it can be to give waste a second life and enjoy a more CIRQLR Christmas.