How to Have Yourself a Very Eco Christmas (and save money at the same time!)

Get organised, forgo waste and love your leftovers with these handy hints and tips

Words: Kayleigh Rattle

It’s estimated the UK throws away more than four million tonnes of perfectly edible food across the month of December. Broken down, that amounts to more than 260,000 turkeys, 7.5 million mince pies and over 170 tonnes of sprouts. Not only that, but it’s thought a staggering half of Brits overspend on food during this time. But what can we do to reduce the colossal amount of food waste we rack up each year? And how can we make Christmas less of a burden on the environment – and our wallets – while still enjoying an utterly delicious feast? Read on for a whole host of seasonal suggestions…

Get ahead

“Cutting waste is really as simple as only buying what you actually need, and separating this from what you think you need,” explains chef Skye Gyngell of London restaurant, Spring (springrestaurant.co.uk). “We probably all have a tendency to overspend and over-buy, especially at Christmas, but we must remember that in the UK alone we generate 30% more waste than usual during the festive period.” Prevent unnecessary excess by donning your trusty apron weeks in advance; that way you get to beat the December rush, and its associated anxieties and stresses, too. Gravies and stuffing, sides such as braised red cabbage and condiments like mint sauce can all be made in advance and frozen, so when it comes down to it, all you need to buy is your centrepiece and fresh veg – which you can do locally, and stress-free.

Make a list

Make a shopping list and as the seasonal jingle goes, check it twice – but also three, four and five times. And, if possible, stick to it religiously. Panic buying means overbuying; prevent the panic by planning – and acting – ahead. If you’re prone to being distracted by end of aisle offers, flash sales or 3-for-2 bargains, try scheduling an online shop. That way, you can avoid all of the alluring offers, and also have the time to go through your shopping basket with a fine-tooth comb, from the comfort of your own home. Skye Gyngell agrees: “Planning ahead really is key. I’d recommend staying away from the major supermarkets and buying from a local market or producer instead. They’ll be able to tell you what produce is available, and you can then create your menu around the best seasonal ingredients on offer. Often, you can place an order in advance and collect it a couple of days before Christmas.”

Speak to your guests

Whether it’s allergies, diets or aversions, chances are your guests won’t eat everything you serve them. Prevent uneaten, gravy-laded soggy sprouts and carrots from being shovelled into the bin during the post-lunch clear up by speaking to your guests about their preferences in advance. Not only will it help to eliminate any awkwardness on the big day, but it may even mean you get to bag an extra roast potato or two in the process. Win!

Love those leftovers

“The number one easiest – and the most fun – way to use up leftovers at this time of year is to make sure there’s always fresh bread in the house,” advises Elly Curshen, author of Green (£22, Ebury). “Use all those delicious ingredients that end up piling up in the fridge and turn them into an epic sandwich! A sandwich with generous amounts of cold bread sauce and cranberry sauce is my favourite thing to eat all year; I honestly look forward to it more than the main event! Remember to freeze a fresh loaf of your favourite bread (sliced up) in the run up to Christmas and take it out December 25th so it’s defrosted and ready to use.”

Cut the waste

Even if you love your leftovers and embrace a sarnie or two on Boxing Day, there’s only so many cold Brussels sprouts and dollops of bread sauce you can mop up, no matter how environmentally conscious or economically savvy you may be. “Have Tupperware and containers ready so you can immediately freeze things like leftover vegetables,” recommends Elly Curshen. “You can then add them to soups, frittatas and curries in January when saving money is at the forefront of peoples’ minds.”

Have an appy xmas

Found yourself with a bag of spuds too many? Or run out of parsnips on the big day? Nifty apps such as Olio (olioex.com) aim to circumvent avoidable food waste by connecting neighbours and communities and encouraging them to list any edible items going spare. The stats are certainly impressive; the app has already connected more than a million users, with over two million items being salvaged so far.

Do it yourself

“Each year, the UK spends a combined total of around £700 million on unwanted presents,” says Skye Gyngell, “So save your pennies! Secret Santas are a great way of saving some money and cutting down on waste. Give gifts that serve a purpose, or are experiential, such as gift vouchers for a restaurant.” Or, have a go at making something yourself. Afterall, who doesn’t love a homemade gift? Cut back on the surplus spending and wrapping by creating your own edible offerings. Think biscuits, winter-spiced spirits, and giant chocolate slabs slathered with seasonal toppings.

Have a zero-waste Christmas

“My top tip for ensuring a sustainable and eco-friendly Christmas is to avoid packaging completely,” suggests chef Skye Gyngell. “Forty per cent of plastic produced today is used for packaging, and packaging is ultimately single-use. It’s hidden everywhere, including in cards and shiny wrapping paper that cannot be recycled. Why not challenge yourself to host a plastic-free, zero-waste Christmas this year?”

Deck the halls

Forgo glitter-covered plastic decorations and make your own instead by simply raiding your kitchen cupboards. Pierce oranges with cloves for a fragrant centrepiece, or dehydrate apple and orange slices and hang them with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves from the tree.

Get supermarket savvy

Walk straight past the piles of bargainous food you don’t need and seek out the eco-friendly options instead. This year, Iceland has launched the UK’s first plastic reduced Christmas dinner, significantly cutting down on and removing the material from 16 products in its range – its Perfect Turkey Crown now comes packaged in a recyclable paper wrap. Find out more at sustainability.iceland.co.uk