What 'newer' Christmas traditions could be scrapped to help save the planet

I was talking about Christmas as an example of a way in which consumerism and new 'traditions' are doing immeasurable harm to the environment and pondering on small ways that we could reduce the harm - it being Christmas time so an ideal time to start this conversation.

By all means start other threads on the many other ways we can change our habits to preserve the planet.

And accusations of virtue signalling are becoming a very lazy way of shutting down debate on important issues.

And accusations of virtue signalling are becoming a very lazy way of shutting down debate on important issues.

Why does saying someone is virtue signalling close down a debate? I would have thought it was a robust debating point.

If I am virtue signalling then so be it but my M&S Christmas crackers have origami novelties instead of plastic tat.

Last Christmas I spent my first ever Christmas alone. I also had no presents to unwrap as I'd been planning to travel to Scotland to stay with my daughter for the 5 days allowed - then the rules changed. DS and DiL had sent a hamper for me and DD to share so I got to drink some of the wine from that on my summer visit this year! DD and I still haven't exchanged presents as she is too nervous to go shopping and there is nothing we really need or want. I'd just retired so didn't even have a secret Santa gift. I never thought I'd miss secret Santa! Obviously no plastic tatt but I only ever once got something really rubbish. Most people bought nice appropriate things! Anyone want a blow-up plastic 'perfect man'. That's the grossest thing I ever received! Can't even bring myself to donate it to the charity shop. I'm glad I don't know who bought it, though I have my suspicions. Close friends were shocked when I told them. Also glad I kept it to open at home so whoever thought it a funny thing to buy a single divorcee didn't get the pleasure of seeing my disappointment when I opened it. That sort of thing is truly a waste of money and terrible for the environment. Hopefully the world will eventually stop producing such awful stuff.

I'm glad to see that many of my grandson's toys are wooden, beautifully made and will last for years. Anything plastic I have got for him has been from freegle, my local freecycle group, so means less plastic going into landfill!

Soniah

Instead of secret santa we're all bringing items for the food bank for our WI

I love this. A couple of years ago my workplace did a 'reverse advent' bringing in donations to the foodbank, though it was in addition to secret Santa.

This thread has also got me thinking about food waste. My mum always bought certain foods for Christmas which no-one ever ate because they were 'traditional'. I've broken that tradition in my house!

I have stripped out any food stuffs that are unnecessary. Nuts are banned anyway because two members have nut allergies and most sweets and nibbles. If people want them they have to bring their own.

Essentially I provide a main meal at lunch time and the makings of a salad or tea meal in the evening. This way no food is served that cannot be frozen or transformed into further dishes. The only thing that gets chucked is the turkey carcase and gammon skin and that only after I have squeezed every ounce of stock from them.

What I buy is of the best and not a mouthful is wasted.