The festive season brings much joy and celebration, but there is also a darker side (and we're not just talking about the longer nights). The festive season brings with it a surge in waste production every year. From Christmas trees to packaging, the holiday festivities can generate an overwhelming amount of waste, often without us realising the significant impact.
This article explores facts about Christmas waste, providing insights and practical tips on how to celebrate in a more sustainable way.
Alarming Christmas Waste Statistics
Were you aware that the UK typically generates an estimated 3 million tonnes of waste during the festive period? This staggering amount results from increased food consumption and the higher volume of packaging and decorations used during Christmas. Christmas contributes to a significant spike in overall waste, producing about 30% more than other times of the year. This surge in waste has far-reaching environmental consequences, contributing to landfill issues and the degradation of natural resources.
The Christmas waste facts are pretty alarming. UK consumers disposed of 13,350 tonnes of glass over the festive period, adding to the growing waste problem. Glass is infinitely recyclable, and there's no reason we shouldn't ensure that all of this remains recycled rather than ending up in landfills. This highlights the need for more mindful consumption and improved waste management practices during the holiday season.
Christmas Waste Facts
- 3 million tonnes of additional waste
- 30% overall increase in waste
- 13,500 tonnes of disposed glass
Understanding the problem's scale enables us to reduce our impact and make more sustainable choices.
Food Waste During the Festive Season
The festive season is synonymous with indulgent feasts and lavish spreads, but it also leads to a significant amount of food waste. In the UK, approximately 4.2 million Christmas dinners
are thrown away each year. This issue of food waste is compounded by over-purchasing and the disposal of specific Christmas food items.
Let's examine these aspects in more detail.
Over-purchasing and leftovers
Seven in ten people readily admit to buying far more food than they need for Christmas. Over-purchasing results in 230,000 tonnes of food in the bin during the festive season. The waste is equivalent to 42 million plates worth of food, highlighting the enormity of the issue. Being mindful of what and how much food is consumed during the holidays can help minimise waste.
Careful planning of meals and portion sizes can significantly reduce food waste. Keeping track of what you already have and making a clear plan can prevent unnecessary purchases. Leftovers can be creatively repurposed into new meals and excess gifts of food items donated, reducing the need to throw away excess food and a helpful addition to boost those ESG activities.
Specific food items
Certain food items are particularly prone to waste during Christmas. Each festive season, 263,000 turkeys are thrown away in the UK. Similarly, an estimated 7.5 million mince pies are wasted during the Christmas period. Over 11 million potatoes and five million Christmas puddings are also discarded yearly. This Christmas food waste represents a significant environmental issue, as highlighted by various Christmas food waste facts.
To combat this, consider donating excess food to local food banks or charities. Additionally, proper storage and timely consumption of festive foods can help reduce waste. By being conscious of our food habits, we can make a positive impact on the environment. Ensuring that your waste is properly segregated can also help to ensure that waste avoids landfills where possible.
Festive Food Waste Facts
- 230,000 tonnes of food is over-purchased
- 7.5 million mince pies are wasted
- 11 million potatoes discarded
- 5 million Christmas puddings thrown
Wrapping Paper and Gift Packaging Waste
The thrill of unwrapping presents is a magical moment of Christmas Day, but sadly, it too can come at a cost. The UK uses a staggering 227,000 miles of wrapping paper every Christmas season. This enormous amount of paper and other packaging materials significantly contributes to holiday waste.
Let's examine the specifics of wrapping paper usage, sellotape and gift tags, and the importance of recycling wrapping paper.
Wrapping paper usage
A UK household typically uses four rolls of wrapping paper each during the Christmas season. If laid end to end, the amount of wrapping paper used for Christmas presents from the UK alone could circle the globe nine times.
To minimise the environmental impact, consider using alternatives like brown paper, newspapers, or fabric wraps. These options help minimise waste and also provide a unique touch to your presents. Being mindful of wrapping paper usage can significantly reduce holiday waste.
Sellotape and gift tags
During Christmas, the UK uses around 40 million rolls of sellotape for gift wrapping. This extensive use of sellotape, along with the waste generated from gift tags, adds to the overall environmental burden. In 2018, approximately 114,000 tonnes of Christmas plastic packaging were disposed of in general waste.
Using eco-friendly alternatives like biodegradable sellotape and reusable gift tags helps reduce this waste.
Festive Wrapping facts:
- 227,000 miles of wrapping paper every Christmas season
- 40 million rolls of sellotape for gift wrapping
- In 2018, c.114,000 tonnes of Christmas plastic packaging was disposed of in general waste
Christmas Cards and Decorations Disposal
Christmas cards and decorations help us all get into the festive spirit but also contribute significantly to holiday waste.
Christmas cards
One billion Christmas cards are disposed of annually in the UK, with the Royal Mail delivering 150 million cards during the festive season. In the UK, each person sends and receives an average of 17 Christmas cards. This is the typical number for card exchanges during the holiday season. Unfortunately, 75% of these cards end up in general waste and are not recycled, contributing to the 30,000 tonnes of Christmas cards thrown away each year.
Fairy lights and batteries
The UK discards around 500 tonnes of Christmas lights annually during the Christmas period. If laid out, the length of these discarded lights could stretch 70,000 miles. The disposal of fairy lights and the 189 million batteries used during Christmas contribute significantly to environmental waste.
LED lights, which are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan, can help mitigate this. Also, properly disposing of batteries at designated recycling centres can help reduce environmental harm. These small changes can significantly reduce Christmas waste.
Christmas cards and decorations facts:
- One billion Christmas cards are thrown away each year.
- 30,000 tonnes of Christmas cards are thrown away each year.
- 189 million batteries used.
- 500 tonnes of Christmas lights are discarded annually.
The Impact of Christmas Trees on Waste
Whether real or artificial, Christmas trees are at the heart of our festive celebrations, yet they significantly contribute to Christmas waste. Each year, millions of trees are discarded, resulting in potential environmental damage.
Real Christmas trees
Around 8 million real Christmas trees are discarded annually in the UK, adding approximately 12,000 tonnes of waste each year. The environmental impact is worsened by the methane emissions released as the trees decompose, exceeding 100,000 tonnes. This methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is far more impactful than carbon dioxide.
However, real Christmas trees can be recycled and repurposed to lessen their environmental footprint. Many local councils offer tree recycling programmes, allowing trees to be transformed into mulch or compost.
Artificial Christmas trees
Though artificial Christmas trees can be reused for several years, they still have a notable environmental footprint due to their production process and materials. Alarmingly, 14% of people dispose of their artificial Christmas trees each year, exacerbating the waste problem. The production and disposal of these trees lead to pollution and resource depletion.
Using artificial trees for as many years as possible, ideally between 10 to 20 years, can offset the initial carbon footprint and make them a more sustainable than single-use real trees.
Christmas Tree Facts:
- Approximately 8 million Christmas trees are discarded in the UK each year
- 14% of people dispose of their artificial Christmas trees each year
The Hidden Cost of Christmas Waste
Beyond the visible waste, there are hidden costs associated with Christmas waste that affect our finances and the environment. The financial burden of waste disposal and the environmental impact of increased carbon emissions can be significant.
Let's examine these hidden costs in more detail.
Financial cost
The cost of disposing of all of the UK's Christmas waste is estimated to be £26 million. This financial burden is compounded by the £20.1 billion spent on Christmas gifts in 2022.
An average UK adult spends £300 on Christmas gifts, and many of these presents can be unwanted. This can quickly add up. It's estimated that Brits spend £700 million on gifts that are not appreciated or used.
Environmental impact
All these statistics show that the environmental footprint of Christmas is substantial. Just under 6% of the UK's total annual carbon emissions are accounted for by Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day combined, and that doesn't even factor in the office Christmas parties in the run-up! The cooking of turkeys alone generates 14,056 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide in the UK during Christmas.
The production of artificial Christmas trees also contributes to carbon emissions, with an average footprint of around 40 kg CO2 per tree if not reused for many years.
Making more sustainable choices, such as using real trees, reducing food waste, and how segregating our waste streams, can lessen the environmental impact of our holiday celebrations.
Christmas Costing Facts:
- £26 million – estimated cost of dealing with excess waste
- Average UK adult spends £300 on Christmas gifts
- £700 million spent on unwanted or unused gifts
How to Have a Sustainable Christmas
Having a sustainable Christmas starts with careful planning and waste collection. Begin by making a list to avoid over-purchasing food and gifts. Emphasise quality over quantity by choosing meaningful gifts that will likely be cherished and used, and maybe looking at experiences for your teams rather than secret Santa? Sustainable gifts can include items made from recycled materials or those that promote sustainability, like reusable shopping bags or cookbooks for leftovers.
Incorporating nature-based activities, such as tree planting or community clean-ups, can create meaningful holiday traditions that support environmental stewardship and provide a great opportunity for teams to connect outside the workplace. Additionally, consider buying a real Christmas tree from a sustainable source or reusing an artificial tree for many years to minimise environmental impact.
In the office, ensuring that your waste streams are properly separated is also key to ensuring that as much is recycled as possible. By paying attention to the waste management hierarchy, we can keep as much as possible from landfill and build a future a few shades greener.
Summary
The festive season brings huge amounts of joy and celebration, but it also comes with hidden environmental and financial costs. By understanding the impact of Christmas waste and adopting sustainable practices, we can reduce our footprint and make the holidays and the run up to them, more sustainable.
From recycling wrapping paper to minimising food waste and choosing sustainable gifts, every small step counts. Let's make this Christmas not just a time of giving, but also a time of giving back to our planet and building a future a few shades greener.
If you'd like help with your waste streams at Christmas, speak to one of our team today.
