Home & Garden
24 December 2019
For schools enjoying Christmas, Hannukah, Eid-al-Fitr, Winter Solstice or Diwali, the festive season is one of the trickiest times to keep sustainability in mind.
The waste we create at Christmas in the UK is 30% more than the rest of the year.
To help the thousands of increasingly climate-conscious schools, the Let’s Go Zero schools campaign has delivered a sack of top tips on how to have more eco-friendly celebrations.
The tips have been put together by their very own ‘sustainability elves’ – the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors who provide free climate action advice to schools.
We all love decorating the tree, but the UK discards 12,500 tonnes of Christmas decorations each year, worth about £1.2m. That includes 68,488 miles of lights.
Climate Action advisor Jelly Moring says: ‘Try crafting decorations from recycled or natural materials – use old newspapers, repurpose unused school supplies or use twigs, branches, driftwood and fir cones for a one-of-a-kind classroom Christmas tree.’
Ask students’ families to pledge to plant a tree after Christmas. Climate Action advisor Kumari Kher suggests tracking pledges on a ‘Tree Pledge Wall’, and then ordering free saplings through programmes like the Woodland Trust’s Free Trees for Schools and Communities.
In spring, plan a tree planting event where students learn about reforestation and leave a lasting green legacy.
Sending individual Christmas cards can add up to huge emissions. One 10g card has a carbon footprint of 140g of CO2 – even if it is printed on recycled paper and then posted and recycled in the UK.
East Midlands Climate Action advisor team leader Jo Pettifer suggests creating one card for the whole class, rather than individual ones, instead of writing a letter asking Father Christmas for more ‘things’.
Set up a festive eco-treasure hunt of sustainable treasures around the school grounds. These could include natural items like pinecones, twigs or leaves that you can use to make decorations, crafts or little gifts.
A festive campfire at the end with unused twigs to toast marshmallows is also good fun! London Climate Action advisor Oci Stott includes clues or challenges that teach students about sustainability and reducing waste during the holidays.
Skip the waste and cost of wrapping paper with reusable alternatives, says Climate Action advisor Melanie Parr. Use spare fabrics and ribbons as eye-catching sustainable gift wrap you can use year after year. If you love tearing open the wrapping, opt for old newspapers or magazines and decorate into a cheerful wrap.
Each year, the UK spends £220 million on festive jumpers, with a quarter ending up in landfill after just one wear. So host a school-wide Christmas jumper swap! Climate Action advisor Rosie Pincott suggests you also have a few spares so students from lower income families aren’t left out.
East of England Climate Action advisor Luciana De Almeida is a big fan of secondhand Secret Santa. Invite students to bring in something unwanted to take part – or visiting charity shops can make the hunt part of the fun. It’s a reminder that great gifts don’t need a hefty price tag—or a big carbon footprint.
Set up a ‘Giving Tree’ in your school where students can contribute small, sustainable gifts or necessities like books, stationery or handmade items, says Southwest Climate Action advisor Jen Gale. These can be donated to a local charity or community centre in need, encouraging thoughtful, low-impact gift-giving during the holiday season.
Don’t let Christmas treats turn into unnecessary food waste; around £4.8 million worth of leftover festive food is binned each year, says South West Climate Action advisor Will Ewens. Plan portions carefully and encourage students to take only what they can eat. Collect any edible leftovers and use in after school club. And set up an annual Christmas food waste challenge – collect the food waste from plates in a bin and weigh it, keep a record and challenge the students to reduce it year by year!
Encourage students to bring in a gently used book from home that they’ve loved, says East Midlands Climate Action advisor Cindi Blunt. Host a festive book swap where everyone picks out a ‘new-to-them’ book to take home for the holidays. It’s a great way to reduce waste, promote reading, and spark joy through sharing stories.
Before the holiday break, don’t forget to give your school an energy break too! Leaving lights and electronics on in an empty school wastes energy and ramps up CO2 emissions. East of England Climate Action advisor Nige Stannett says get students involved by creating an ‘Energy Elf Team’ to ensure every classroom—and shared spaces like kitchens and staff rooms—are powered down properly. It’s a simple, fun way to teach sustainability while helping your school save energy and cut costs.
Midlands Climate Action advisor Paula Malone inspires students to make a difference by encouraging them to create sustainable pledges for the planet. Have them write their promises on eco-friendly paper or old cards, then hang them up on an upcycled Christmas tree made from recycled materials like cardboard, twigs or old books. It’s a fun way to get students involved in sustainability, while turning the tree into a symbol of their commitment!
Let’s Go Zero advisors are giving schools free advice all year round (not just for Christmas). Ask your school to sign up here.
Follow these tips to avoid food waste and improve recycling this Christmas.
Poll suggests half of us are planning our ‘most sustainable Christmas ever’.
Yeo Valley Organic shares two simple organic recipes to whip up with the kids.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Weekly ethical news, offers, comps and a free digital mag (quarterly) – what’s not to love?
