Even if you deny the impact of Climate Change, it does seem wholly strange to us why on earth anybody would buy a gift for someone and send most of the packaging to landfill almost as soon as Santa’s sleigh departs.
Consciously consuming or mindful consumption is changing the perception of luxury, gifting and buying in general.
If luxury and gifts are doing more harm in the attempt to make us feel good then should it really be a purchase we should undertake.
With more and more consumers looking to have a greener festive season, and Google searches for conscious consumption on the up, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you could have a more sustainable Christmas this year.
By ensuring Christmas isn’t laden with single use miniatures, unrecyclable plastics,foils, inks and wraps or products that harm aquatic life is where we step in. Yes, it’s time to indulge and commit to as many festivities as possible, but it’s also possible to do so while being mindful of troublesome seasonal elements such as increased waste. So, how can you go about having a truly sustainable Christmas.
Let’s start with the obvious…
Green gifts
Give someone the gift of green and let them be safe in the knowledge that they are receiving products that are safe for their skin and safe for the environment. We offer the gift of sustainability with all of our products year-round, and every product has been designed with both the consumer and the planet in mind. Essentially we’ve taken the stress out of gifting responsibly for you! Our skincare is free of nasties - you’ll find that our products are don’t contain SLS, MI (Methylisothiazolinone) or MCI or microbeads and they have not been tested on animals. We also use botanically sourced ingredients derived by nature like herbs, plants and flowers. Basically, you should be able to find a green gift for everyone, from moisturisers and hand creams, to oils or gift sets.
Planet friendly packaging
A simple but incredibly effective way of ensuring your festive season looks a little more green around the edges is to make sure the packaging you’re gifting and ordering is as sustainable as possible. From bottles that can be reused around the house as decorative accessories to compostable packaging and plastic-free alternatives, there are so many different options out there now. In fact, it’s so accessible these days that there’s not really any excuse for opting for single-use products and gifting.
When it comes to our packaging, we like to make sure it both looks good and does good. Our stunning gift boxes from our new Christmas Collection are grown in seven days using mushroom technology called Mycelium and agricultural waste such as hemp stalks. They are 100% compostable and break down naturally in just 40 days, so you can either drop into your green waste or plant in the garden.
And then when it comes to your wrapping, try using recycled paper, old newspapers or opt for recyclable wrapping paper that doesn’t come with a plastic film.
Reuse and recycle
We’ve all heard of upcycling and looking to give new life to old things, haven’t we? And there’s no better time than Christmas to start exploring this trend. Why not use our lovely apothecary bottles as candle holders for your Christmas table set up? Or, place little sprigs of mistletoe and holly in them to sit on your mantelpiece or windowsill. Forage around for some sprigs of holly, ivy or berries growing in your garden and use these as eco-friendly, natural festive decorations around the house.
We really aren’t fans of single use, over packaged skincare or beauty products – since our formation in 2009, we’ve always opted for shelf naked, recyclable, multi-use and second life components and packaging whenever we can. Which is exactly why we created our reusable tote bag - something that makes for a perfect Christmas gift for the eco-conscious person in your life.
A few quickfire tips
- Rent a Christmas Tree!
- Make your own sustainable Christmas cards
- Buy eco-friendly crackers
- Opt for a reusable Advent Calendar - plus, it’s a fun way to make a new family tradition!
- Go organic and buy your food from local producers
- Look out for plant-based glitter
- Recycle old festive attire
- Explore the idea of organic wine and tipples
- Switch to LED Christmas lights
- Reuse last year’s Christmas products and decorations, instead of buying more and new!
If in doubt, the most sustainable Christmas gift ever is... THE GIFT CARD. Digitally sent ensures that this year you are truly being sustainable and the reciever can get the exact skincare items they desire.
