Green tips:
Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Here are some tips to make your Christmas a bit greener:

• Buy food from local farmers markets, organic suppliers and vegetable box schemes - this reduces packaging, 'food miles' and also helps your local economy.
  
• When shopping try to buy food and drink in materials that can be recycled in your area, such as paper and glass, and buy drinks in large containers rather than lots of small ones.
• Avoid using paper plates, cups and serviettes if you're planning a party.
• Buy recycled and green! Gifts such as a solar-powered mobile phone charger or a wind up radio are both useful and environmentally friendly. Or choose a gift such as theatre tickets, memberships or treating someone to dinner.
• Alternatively, why not give to a charity that can help someone in the developing world, or give a donation to your favourite cause? Many charities also now offer 'alternative' Christmas gifts, such as goats for farmers in developing countries, which can make a real difference.
• Look out after Christmas for local and national campaigns to recycle old Christmas cards - many shops and charities now do this.
• Instead of sending lots of cards, why not send a message or electronic Christmas card to friends and family via the internet? If you normally give several cards within one place, e.g. at your work, why not just give one in a communal area and pledge the money you've saved to charity.
• Buy a UK-grown real tree with roots, or artificial trees are a good alternative as they can be used over and over. Contact your local authority to check if it has a scheme for chipping and composting old trees to produce mulch or soil improver.