It’s a season of utter excess.

And if you suspect you could be doing more to be a little greener this Christmas, Cork Zero Waste has your back.

The local volunteer group, which works to make Cork a more zero-waste and sustainable city through events and educational resources, has issued a list of tips and easy changes to make over the coming weeks.

“You can have so much fun thinking of innovative ways to be more sustainable at Christmas and create new, environmentally friendly traditions,” says Cork Zero Waste committee member Aisling Kett.

“Christmas doesn’t have to cost the earth. The most sustainable and ethical items are the ones you already own. So reusing, upcycling, repairing, borrowing and swapping them is better than buying new.

“Even if an item is made from recycled plastic, more resources were still needed to make it.”

 

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Here are some Cork Zero Waste tips on how to reduce your environmental impact during the festive period:

• Don’t buy new outfits for parties or events – wear what you have in your wardrobe or check out charity or vintage shops for secondhand. You can even rent outfits. And if you’re bored with your Christmas jumper, swap it with a friend.
• Instead of wrapping paper, reuse gift bags or wrap gifts in old newspaper. You could even use a scarf or tea towel to wrap and be part of the gift.
• Think of portions needed when buying food so none goes to waste. Choose local, organic, and plastic-free when you can.
• Serve food on platters so people can choose their serving size. If you have leftovers, search for inventive recipes to turn them into a new, delicious dish or send guests away with a doggy bag.
• When gift giving, consider doing Kris Kindle with family and friends to reduce the amount of gifts.
• Choose experiences, like a spa day or a cooking class, rather than items. A donation to a charity close to their heart is also a lovely idea.

Cork Zero Waste is running a 12 Days of Sustainable Christmas campaign across its social media channels (@corkzerowaste on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) where you can find more information and ideas.