A Merry, Mindful, Christmas
As another year draws to a close, work parties out the way, and shopping (hopefully) finished up, Christmas is well and truly in full swing!
For those fortunate enough, this is a time to switch off from work, and even set aside thoughts of company sustainability. It is time to focus on the things that matter most at Christmas: the lights, the smells, the food, a well-earned drink, and getting too competitive at the annual quiz with family and friends.
For many, it’s a season for slowing down, being a little more carefree and indulgent, and enjoying moments of celebration and connection without the burden of overthinking them.
But as with anything we enjoy, it’s worth pausing to think about HOW we do it. The festive period is one of the times of year when consumption and waste spike most sharply, often without us thinking about it. A real burnout in more ways than one. However, unlike us, the planet can’t go on a New Year’s diet or sign up for a post-Christmas gym class to undo overindulgence.
So, keep sustainability in mind this festive season.
This isn’t about guilt or taking the joy out of Christmas, its about awareness, and how small, thoughtful choices can collectively make a meaningful difference.
With that in mind, here’s some simple ways to enjoy Christmas this year, whilst knowing you’re still doing your small part for the world around you and waking up feeling slightly better about yourself in the New Year.
Christmas By Numbers
Here are a few eye-opening festive stats we came across. A look at how our Christmas habits add up.
🎁 Unsurprisingly, the average Briton’s carbon emissions on Christmas Day are about 23 times higher than on a typical day. (Source: The Independent)
🎅This is largely driven by gifts and celebration-related activity (about 513kg CO₂e versus a daily average of 22kg) which shows just how much impact gifts and choices have. (Source: The Guardian).
➡️ Perhaps most shocking of all, though: £42 million worth of unwanted presents are sent to landfill each year, whilst far more sustainable donation options are available. (Source: Kings College London)
🌲 Each UK household tends to throw away an estimated 168 million Christmas lights and battery-powered decorations every year. Many can be reused, repaired, donated, or recycled with a little forethought. (Source: The Guardian).
🍽️ Over the holiday period, food waste soars , many of us are guilty of overbuying festive treats, with surveys showing that more than half of people admit to doing so. In total, around 270,000 tonnes of food goes to waste in the UK each Christmas. (Source: The Sun / Kings College London)
📦 UK consumers discard an extra 30% more waste during Christmas than the rest of the year. From packaging to trees and decorations. In fact, UK households throw away, on average, three black bags, exclusively filled with Christmas packaging, every year. This includes 114’000 tonnes of plastic packaging. (Source: GWP Group)
💌 Wrapping paper alone covers astonishing distances. The UK alone uses 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, enough to circle the globe nearly nine times, much of which isn’t recyclable if foil, glitter, or plastic is included. (Source: GWP Group)
These figures reflect scale, but they also tell a hopeful story: so much of what we do during Christmas is by choice, and so many choices are still in our hands. While we may all contribute to these statistics, the good news? These are all easy fixes, made possible by simple, thoughtful choices from consumers.
Easy Festive Wins
A few easy choices that keep the festive magic, while doing a bit more good.
🎁 Give Gifts That Keep Giving
It doesn’t always have to be about the latest toys or the newest clothes. Opt for experiences, items from local makers, gifts designed to last, or thoughtfully chosen pre-loved or homemade items instead of one-use, materialistic products. Thoughtful gifts often create more meaning with less environmental cost.
🎨 Wrap Smart
Swap non-recyclable foil or glitter paper for kraft paper, fabric wraps, or reusable gift bags. You can even take it a step further by reusing wrapping paper, instead of sending it off to designated family wrapping paper destroyer in the corner of the living room.
Even adding a sprig of greenery or a recycled card tag makes it special — and recyclable.
🍽️ Plan & Enjoy Food Mindfully
Planning meals and preserving leftovers is good for your wallet and the planet , no one feels good when Christmas dinner goes to waste. A second extra thought on over-consumption goes a long way! Who doesn’t love a bubble & squeak or a turkey sandwich on Boxing Day?
💡 Reuse & Recycle Decor
Keep lights and decorations for future years, repair what you can, and recycle things correctly, batteries and electronics especially need special handling. When it’s time to part with them, take them to local recycling points or household waste facilities that accept electrical items, rather than tossing them in the bin.
Why This All Matters
Christmas will always be about joy, connection, and celebration. Articles like this aren’t looking to change that.
But, it’s worth remembering that the choices we make, from wrapping paper to gifts, to how we plan and enjoy our meals, can ripple far beyond our own homes.
Small, thoughtful decisions add up exponentially when everyone makes them. The hope is that this piece shows sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing enjoyment, it just invites us to celebrate with a bit more care and intention.
Ultimately, sustainability at Christmas isn’t about sacrifice, or having a worse time, it’s about enjoying ourselves just as much, and feeling a little bit better about our impact on the plant as we enter 2026.
🎄From all of us at Incite Environmental, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄
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Stay connected with our Wednesday Windows into the Sustainability World, right here and on LinkedIn, as we continue sharing insights in 2026.
