Kindness Council Christmas

The Kindness Council have explored ways we can all be kinder to each other, the planet and ourselves this festive season.

1. Reusable Advent Calendars

An estimated 16.5 million advent calendars containing single use plastics end up in landfill.  Investing in a reusable advent calendar reduces plastic and can be filled with handmade treats and gifts.

2. Reduce disposable items

Planning a Christmas party or meal? if you are organising an event this Christmas, get involved with the planning and where possible use real cutlery, plates and glasses instead of disposables.

3. Make or purchase cards from recycled paper 

Look for cards made from recycled or FSC-certified paper. Avoid plastic ribbon and tape or foil-backed wrapping paper. Choose cards that you can recycle (No foil or glitter!).

4. Buy or swap second hand toys

Looking for toys as a Christmas gift?  Can you buy second hand or organise a toy swap with friends or family?  90% of toys are made from non-recyclable plastic and have a long lifespan and can be easily cleaned.  Re-use and recycle where you can! #ChristmasToySwap

5. Sustainable Christmas Trees

If buying a plastic Christmas tree, make sure that you’re going to reuse it for at least 10 years. Otherwise, buy a living tree from a sustainable forest. Make sure it’s FSC-certified. Be clear on how to dispose of your tree once the season is over. If it is potted, think about replanting it.

 6. Avoid Fast Fashion 

Planning on wearing a festive jumper?  Can you find a Christmas jumper at a charity shop or swap with family or friends? Reuse and recycle this Christmas! 

7. Thoughtful Christmas gifts 

If you’re struggling for a gift idea - why not choose an animal adoption as a perfect gift for nature and wildlife-lovers wanting to help the environment.  Give charity gifts or donate instead of buying a present. 

8. Think about your lights 

Need to replace the Christmas lights? Use LED lights - they use less energy, last longer and look just as good! Also, switch off your lights at night - it's safer and won’t cost the earth.

9. Reducing waste 

Reduce waste even further by buying gifts with little or no packaging.  If you must use packaging, use recycled, or recyclable, materials.  Avoid plastic where possible, and don’t forget your reusable bags to carry all your shopping home!  

10. Sustainable wrapping 

In the UK we throw away an eye-watering 227,000 miles of wrapping paper every year. Has the time come to start wrapping gifts?  Buy recycled paper and try to avoid plastic ribbon and tape or foil-backed wrapping paper. 

11. All about the Crackers!

Many Christmas crackers are not recyclable, and the toys inside are often made of plastic. Instead, look out for FSC-certified crackers. Reusable DIY crackers are another great option. Fill them yourself with sustainable options (like chocolates) and personalised festive favours.   

12. Random Acts of Kindness 

Offering to pick up groceries for an elderly or vulnerable neighbour, leaving a surprise gift for someone you know who may be alone for Christmas or leave a message of goodwill. 

There are lots of little things you can do to put a smile on a stranger’s face at Christmas. 

13. Travel

Make your Christmas travel greener by sharing lifts to the shops with friends and family, or use public transport. 

14. Reduce food waste 

Food production is the biggest cause of tropical deforestation. Try to cut any waste by planning ahead - be realistic about how much food you need and use up leftovers. Instead of clingfilm, use Tupperware, foil and wax cloth covers to keep leftovers nice and fresh! 

15. Make time for friends and family 

The festive season is all about spending time with friends and family. Try making one of your festive activities a walk around your local park National Trust or nature reserve. 

16. Swap poultry for plants!  

Poultry is in the top 10 most wasted foods in the UK and 100,000 tonnes of it ends up in the bin every year. Eating more plant-based meals is good for you and the planet.  Can you swap one poultry meal for plant-based this Christmas?  

17. Eat seasonally 

Make your shopping basket more sustainable by buying locally produced, seasonal products. Doing so reduces the energy spent growing foods out of season or shipping food to the UK. Support UK farmers by eating with the seasons.  

18. Gift of giving 

Struggling with those last minute Christmas gifts?  Consider a present which could make a difference to someone else. 

19. Take care of yourself 

Christmas can be a difficult period for some people and, if you are struggling, it is important you find the help you need. 

People can suffer with their mental health, debt, exhaustion; it is important to be kind to yourself and others. 

20. Give the gift of time.  

Freeing up some of your time to volunteer at a local charity is a great way to reconnect with the truly important things in life.  Spending an afternoon or evening with someone could be the difference between a happy and a very lonely Christmas.

21. Use energy wisely 

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the festive period uses a lot of energy. From the Christmas lights, non-stop cooking, movie marathons and Alexa on loop, it’s no doubt we use a lot of energy. Try changing to energy-efficient light bulbs, unplug computers, televisions, laptops and other electronic devices when not in use, wash clothes at lower temperatures and install a smart thermostat. 

22. Don’t forget your reusable cup!  

Whether you're warming your hands at a Christmas fair or getting your daily dose of a gingerbread latte  - bring your reusable cup. Lots of cafes offer a discount and will help to reduce waste over the festive season.  #reusablecup 

23. Christmas wellbeing 

It’s great to enjoy celebration meals, seasonal treats and TV-watching marathons but it’s all about balance.  Try to plan some healthy meals and time out of the house for exercise and connecting with nature. 

24. Connect with others 

Christmas is a perfect time to connect with others.  A note on a messaging app, phone or video call could make all the difference to someone’s day.  Contacting someone you know who may be feeling isolated, whether an old friend or someone in your community, could help you both.

25. Food waste for compost 

All of that leftover vegetable peelings can be broken down into compost.   Composting has many benefits including enriching soil, reducing methane emissions from landfills, and lowering your carbon footprint! 

26. Keep warm!  

Use Christmas jumpers and blankets instead of turning up the heating! If you need to heat the house, try to set your heating to come on with a timer, to ensure you're not wasting energy during times when you don't need it. 

27. Have a day out! 

Time to get out of the house?  Take the children on a day trip to a local museum Explore a new area of your local community.  Make time and space for your own health and wellbeing whilst learning something new!