Go green this Christmas

Go green this Christmas

 Want to have a fabulous¹ festive² season and cut down on your waste? Here's how to minimise your impact on the environment without missing out on all the fun

It's possible to have a really wonderful Christmas and be environmentally responsible, too. Here are some great ideas on how you can care for the planet while you celebrate. 

Cards

Consider sending cards made from recycled materials or send an e-card instead. Friends of the Earth offer a free e-card service at www.foe³.co.uk. Don't forget to recycle your cards, too. WH Smith and most supermarkets will have Christmas card recycling points.

Alternatively, you can re-use cards by turning them into gift tags for next year. Simply cut out festive motifs⁴ from the cards using pinking shears⁵ to create a decorative⁶ edge, then punch a hole in one end of each piece of card, and thread with ribbon that can be tied to gifts. And rather than buying a bunch, why not make your own?

Gifts

See our green gift guide

A good ecological⁷ option is to buy gifts that have been made from recycled materials. Try www.ecotopia.co.uk for stylish⁹ recycled-glass vases and toys, or www.recyclenow.com for green gifts, like handbags made from reclaimed¹⁰ leather and jewellery made from old carrier bags. For a no-packaging, no-waste present, treat someone to an experience gift, such as a spa day or theatre tickets. When it comes to any unwanted gifts you've received, don't throw them away, take them to a charity shop, or see if other people want them by posting them on www.freecycle.org, a non-profit organisation¹¹ that aims to reduce landfill sites by providing a place where people can give and receive belongings¹² for free.

Giftwrap

If you want to be super-green, wrap presents in recycled or brown paper, which can look very stylish when teamed with a pretty ribbon. Alternatively, Natural Collection sells paper made from raffia fibres, which means that no trees were cut down to make it. After the festivities are over, recycle your giftwrap or, if your local authority doesn't accept wrapping paper for recycling, re-use it. To make this easy, tie parcels with string rather than sticky tape. The paper won't get torn and you can fold it loosely and store with your decorations for use again next year.

Christmas tree

Real vs fake

If you can, buy a living Christmas tree that can be repotted. After the holidays, put it outside in a bigger pot so that it can be brought indoors again next year, or plant it in a permanent spot in the garden. And the tree doesn't have to be the only 'green' decoration. Holly¹³, ivy¹⁴, berries and twigs¹⁵ from your garden or local florist¹⁶ can be used for eco-friendly trimmings. Remember to compost them after the holiday and, if you buy a felled tree, compost that, too. Either chop it up finely and put it on your own compost heap, or contact your local council, which should collect it for composting.

Food & drink

Eat ethically¹⁷ this Christmas

Try to buy only what you need, as lots of waste is created with uneaten food. Taking a shopping list with you to the shops and sticking to it will help. Opt⁸ for local, seasonal¹⁸ food to cut down on food miles, which contribute to climate change. Buy loose rather than pre-packaged vegetables, put peelings on the compost heap and recycle bottles and cans. If you're throwing a party, don't use disposable plates or cutlery. If you don't have enough to go round, ask guests to bring some or borrow from neighbours.

1 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。

2 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

3 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

4 motifs   

n. （文艺作品等的）主题( motif的名词复数 )；中心思想；基本模式；基本图案

参考例句：

• I try to develop beyond the old motifs. 我力求对传统的花纹图案做到推陈出新。 来自辞典例句
• American Dream is one of the most important motifs of American literature. “美国梦”是美国文学最重要的母题之一。 来自互联网

5 shears   

n.大剪刀

参考例句：

• These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use.这些园丁剪刀又轻又好用。
• With a few quick snips of the shears he pruned the bush.他用大剪刀几下子就把灌木给修剪好了。

6 decorative   

adj.装饰的，可作装饰的

参考例句：

• This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.这种器皿中看不中用。
• The style is ornate and highly decorative.这种风格很华丽，而且装饰效果很好。

7 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

8 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

9 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

10 reclaimed   

adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

12 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

13 holly   

n.[植]冬青属灌木

参考例句：

• I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.最近我从一棵冬青树上弄了些木料。
• People often decorate their houses with holly at Christmas.人们总是在圣诞节时用冬青来装饰房屋。

14 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

15 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

16 florist   

n.花商；种花者

参考例句：

• The florist bunched the flowers up.花匠把花捆成花束。
• Could you stop at that florist shop over there?劳驾在那边花店停一下好不好？

17 ethically   

adv.在伦理上，道德上

参考例句：

• Ethically , we have nothing to be ashamed about . 从伦理上说，我们没有什么好羞愧的。
• Describe the appropriate action to take in an ethically ambiguous situation. 描述适当行为采取在一个道德地模棱两可的情况。

18 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。