26 easy ways to act on climate change this December

The holidays can contribute massively to behaviours and waste that hurt our environment, but there are some very easy actions we can all take through December (and beyond) to protect our planet without sacrificing our traditions.

For more guidance on the simple actions you can take to help reduce your impact on climate change and the local groups, services and resources available to help, check out our Resident Action Pack.

How you can contribute

Read our tips for a climate friendly festive season:

1. Get sustainably cosy

Did you know that you could reduce the energy you use for heating by as much as 10%, just by turning down your central heating by one degree Celsius? While it's important to keep warm during the cold months, there are options to do so while conserving energy. Opt for extra layers instead and find more information about reducing your carbon footprint and energy bill at home. If you need support with the cost of living this season and want to find out what's available to you, visit our Cost of Living Hub.

2. Think about the post-holiday journey of your tree

If you are buying a new tree, a fake tree is always the worst option for the environment. An easy and eco-friendly option is to rent a live potted tree from a local supplier that is then replanted and continues to grow from year to year. You can also do this yourself if you have a garden and the room! If you buy a cut tree, try to buy from a local, sustainable source and ensure it's Forest Stewardship Council approved. We offer a kerbside tree collection service. Find out more about choosing an eco-friendly tree.

3. Consider this bright idea when decorating your tree or home

Many people get creative with strings of festive lights in December, but you can choose to do this in a way that reduces energy consumption by using low-energy LED lights, which are typically easy to find at your local appliance shop.

4. Don’t leave the festive fun on standby

The average household spends £35 per year powering appliances that are left on standby, equivalent to 50kg of greenhouse gases. Don’t forget to power down the tree lights when you’re not in the room. You can also easily track your energy usage by fitting a free smart meter, which your current energy supplier will install for free.

5. Skip the flimsy plastic décor and add your own personal touch

While many people reuse their holiday decorations year to year, these items can be quite flimsy and need replacing, and many options including tree ornaments can be difficult to recycle. Making your own decorations with paper or other recyclable materials is a fun activity to do with family or friends (you can even turn it into a friendly competition) - or if you have run out of box sets to watch. If you do buy new, try to avoid decorations made with plastic.

6. Spread the holiday spirit with cards that keep on giving

Did you know that you can buy plant-able holiday cards? This zero-waste alternative is made of biodegradable paper embedded with a variety of seeds that when planted in a pot of soil begin to grow while the paper decomposes.

7. Support your local economy and environment

When you #ShopLocal in Richmond, you are not only supporting your community’s businesses – you have also got the opportunity to purchase local produce and goods to cut down on the food miles your winter comfort food ingredients have to travel. Head to one of Richmond's zero-waste refill shops to stock up on all your refillable food and household products while cutting plastic use.

8. Choose active travel when doing your holiday shopping

Shopping locally for the holidays means you can choose active travel options like cycling and walking over driving. If you’re planning to go further afoot, you could use public transport.

If you have too much to carry there is also a high street directory that allows you to shop across many local businesses and receive a single delivery of your shopping using zero-emission vehicles, cargo bikes, or by foot.

9. Don’t forget about your local circular economy

The concept of circular economy is all about reducing waste by re-using and recycling unwanted items, rather than buying new materials. There are a variety of community reuse and recycle schemes in Richmond that support residents to do this easily and responsibly.

Interested in exchanging unwanted items with your neighbours free of charge? Check out the local volunteer-run group Richmond Freegle that helps coordinate this!

10. Consider streamlining the number of gifts you buy to avoid materials waste

Rather than stuffing stockings with a load of plastic toys and goodies that may well end up in a landfill, why not try out this want, need, wear and read approach to gift-buying this year?

If you participate in secret Santa, embrace the Icelandic 'Jolabokaflod', the tradition of giving each other books on Christmas Eve, which are unwrapped that day and read that evening with a mug of cocoa or mulled wine – pass on one of your favourite novels to keep it second-hand and meaningful.

11. Or, consider going home-made and heartfelt with your gifts!

Handmade gifts are a great way to add a nice personal touch and reduce environmental impact. There is a load of creative options to choose from – homemade cakes and biscuits, knitting, sewing, or woodwork. You can have a look around your local thrift or charity shops for high quality second-hand materials.

12. Think twice about how you will wrap gifts

Recycling advisors WRAP estimate that the amount of wrapping paper thrown away during the holidays in just the UK would stretch to the moon. Some wrapping paper that is coated with foil or plastic isn’t recyclable, so why not try wrapping with something reusable like fabric, or perhaps get creative and reuse old magazines or newspapers? Find out how you can recycle your paper and wrapping in Richmond.

13. If you have already bought wrapping paper that isn’t recyclable, think about how you will unwrap gifts

Unwrap gifts carefully to re-use the same paper next year or donate to a scrap store. Try Googling how to wrap presents by creatively folding the paper, rather than using tape or glue, which makes it easier to avoid tearing the paper.

14. Gift an experience instead

You could scrap the need for wrapping paper and new materials altogether by gifting people experiences for the holidays and optimise the UK’s great system of public transportation to do so.

15. Meal plan for your holiday feast

Reduce your risk of wasting food during the holidays by only buying what you need. A great way to start is by using this helpful #FoodSavvy guide to successful meal planning and sample template you can take with you on your big festive shop.

16. When planning your menus, plan on eating seasonably

Eating fruit and veg at their seasonal best not only results in better value and taste, but it is also better for the planet. Importing food from abroad has a substantial carbon footprint and growing in season doesn’t require as many artificial elements like lighting and heating. Check out this Eat Seasonably calendar to pinpoint the best options.

17. Make sure you are storing food properly to maximise its lifespan

A lot of food waste can come down to improperly storing food, which plays a hand in food going bad sooner. Read these tips to ensure you make the most of what you buy.

18. If you do have food items that are near expiring, make the most of them

Don’t throw perfectly good ingredients away – throw them into a creative recipe. We have an entire library of videos on how to create delicious recipes with items that are commonly thrown out too soon.

You can now watch local chef Livio from Twickenham Italian restaurant Masaniello put together two restaurant-quality meals from commonly wasted food items – perfect for the holiday spread!

19. Make a meat-free meal

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of global carbon emissions, and that eating less meat can lead to a healthier environment. Turkey, ham, and roasts are all popular this time of year, but consider making one or two meals meat-free. Find out how to get started eating less meat.

20. Remember to recycle any food scraps appropriately – or compost them yourself!

You can easily get a free food waste container and information about how to recycle food waste. If you are keen to keep your green thumb going through winter, why not try home composting?

Find out what happens to your food waste recycling.

21. Think green when bringing extra seating for family and friends into your home

It’s always wonderful to have company over for the holidays, but many people end up purchasing extra seating and tables last-minute to fit additional guests, which are often made of plastic and either thrown out or stored in the loft afterwards. Rather than buying new, cheap materials, why not look to the local volunteer-run Richmond Furniture Scheme's second-hand stock (which can easily be donated back later)?

22. Resist the temptation to buy yet another Christmas jumper

Environmental charity Hubbub warns against buying new Christmas jumpers after finding that up to 95% of them are made using plastic. The most common plastic fibre used is acrylic, which was found in three quarters of the jumpers tested. Re-wear your Christmas jumpers – or start a new tradition of swapping jumpers with others in your circle!

23. Go eco with your Christmas crackers

Most people won’t have a clue what happens to the plastic prizes in their crackers once they’ve been torn open, and that’s because they end up in the bin almost as soon as the meal is over. The majority of crackers cannot be recycled, so keep an eye out for recyclable and plastic free crackers – you can even find reusable crackers in some stores.

24. Put all your empty cans, glass bottles, jars, plastic bottles, and foil to the side to be collected

The holiday season is a time for celebrating with family and friends, and this tends to result in a lot of material that can be recycled in your black box. Find out more about collection days, to plan ahead.

25. Know what to do with the plastic you use

You might go through more single-use and multi-use plastics during the holiday season than normal. Try to avoid this where possible, but if you do make sure you know how to recycle plastic appropriately. You can also find out how and where to recycle plastic bags and soft plastic wrapping/film.

26. On Boxing Day, follow our useful tips for recycling after Christmas

Not sure what to do with all the festive cards on your refrigerator? Or your tree? Miscellaneous bits and bobs that you think might be recyclable but just aren’t sure? Check out our useful tips for recycling after Christmas.