Plastic Free Christmas

Reducing our consumption and the amount of waste we produce can fall to the wayside this time of year, but there’s plenty of ways to incorporate a low waste lifestyle into the holiday season.

Recycled & recyclable gift wrapping

I don’t buy Christmas wrapping paper any more. I use brown Kraft paper and jazz it up with some festive stamps or pretty string and dried orange slices

Paper tape

Still using my supplies up of plastic cellotape on my Christmas wrapping this year, but for orders from my webshop I have switched over to paper tape. Be sure to look out for plastic free adhesives, eg natural rubber based.

Make your own

Baked Christmas goodies usually involve plenty of plastic. Instead try making your own mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding!

Avoid plastic wrapped vegetables at the supermarket

An easy way to cut out plastic in your grocery shop is to switch from plastic wrapped vegetable to loose vegetables. Make sure to take your own reusable produce bag though. After eating vegetables out of the garden all summer, seeing vegetables wrapped in plastic in the supermarket seems so unnatural now!

Homemade crackers

Homemade Christmas crackers have been a family favourite long before it was trendy. All you need is a loo roll, wrapping paper, a snap and a small plastic free gift for inside (I like a mini bottle of gin!). See how here

Help your family & friends start their low waste living journeys

There’s lots of great plastic free bundles out there, they make great gifts and stocking fillers!

Don’t forget your reusable bags and facemasks when out shopping

I’ve been very lucky to have been some beautiful homemade facemasks from my mum. There are lots of small business makers that need support too.

More plastic free and eco gift ideas

I get lots of our plastic free products from &Keep, you can get 15% off through this link

Land In Our Names has put together a great list of Christmas gifts that give back. I particularly love the fabrics used by Green Soul Grace for her tote bags and snack pouches.

I love everything by Kat Goldin at Gartur Stitch Farm, where she produces regeneratively farmed goats milk soap, wonderful kits and courses. Give the gift of sourdough this Christmas!

Support small sheepy businesses

Island resident Helen of Woolly-Wally creates lovely woven scarves and throws using wool from the native sheep

I couldn’t resist treating myself to a cute pottery sheep a few weeks ago. Handmade and one of a kind

Patchwork Sheep creates beautiful felted fleeces, a vegetarian alternative to sheepskins. Each fleece is from one sheep, who you can read all about on the website.

Truly Weshly Woolly creates gorgeous little needlefelted sheep with lots of character

Balnahard on the Isle of Colonsay partners with Colonsay Gin to create very special natural dyed yarns using the botanicals left over from the the gin distills.

Uradale Farm keep their peatland healthy and storing carbon using their sheep and produce gorgeous organic yarns.

My own adopt-a-sheep pack supports our forever flock of North Ronaldsay sheep.

Most importantly, support a small local maker or business this Christmas. We do a happy dance everytime you do!