Green Christmas

screamer · 30-09-2019 10:26pm #1

Well, I’ve decided much as I love Christmas, I love the planet a lot more so this year I’m gonna ask Santa to leave the plastic shiny toys at the North Pole and bring some nice Woden toys, books and jigsaws. I’m also going to ask him not to wrap the presents. I’m giving online gift vouchers rather than the plastic carded type, and I’m not really sure what else, but I’m gonna try and enjoy Christmas without all the crap from China that I really don’t need. Anyone any other ideas for a greener Christmas?

cmsuser_jw12 · 30-09-2019 10:27pm

Great idea - I'll keep an eye out!

Atlantic Dawn · 30-09-2019 10:29pm

Why not just give cash instead of vouchers, cash can be used anywhere and is already in circulation.

freshpopcorn · 01-10-2019 2:56am

I was going to say cash instead of vouchers also.
I'd also the question of what I am giving to people. I know if I gave wooden toys, books, etc to some people. It would be thrown around the house and eventually end up in the fire or bin. (So, make sure what you are getting is matched to the person).
A lot depends on the age bracket you are buying for.
Try and bake at home instead of buying stuff.
Also, if your really serious consider a vegan Christmas.

Maybe consider making your home more green as a gift for the family also.

Graces7 · 01-10-2019 6:28am

I live very simply out here on the island, and yes, green... No car, no washing machine etc, no central heating. With no living family. no present buying anyways and many years ago friends and I agreed on small gifts only. I mean at my age I have all I need and more. Consumables are always welcomed!

Oh no TV but then internet does all that anyways. Love youtube

I know it is a very different life out here... Never did give my cats Christmas gifts.. but I usually get a small turkey so we share that. Cats are obligate carnivores so cannot go vegan although my share will be minimal !

But a deeply satisfying way... I am attached to some of my very old decorations; tradition works for me. And they hold memories. Far more satisfying and expressive in a different way than novelty... also as a pensioner !

Graces7 · 01-10-2019 6:30am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Why not just give cash instead of vouchers, cash can be used anywhere and is already in circulation.

could I suggest adding a very small personal gift with the cash especially for older folk? Makes it more meaningful and loving.

Jude13 · 01-10-2019 9:07am

A real biodegradable tree, you can buy one from a farm that either chops the top off an existing, replants or you cna even get a potted one and put it back after christmas!

screamer · 12-10-2019 12:31pm

I’m ordering my turkey from a local farm this year and I’m looking into what decorations I can get that will not be all plasticy Chinese tat to replace broken stuff.

bee06 · 12-10-2019 12:57pm

I was only thinking about this in the morning and wondering if it would be considered rude to tell my family not to buy plastic toys for my little boy if they were going to get him something for Christmas.

Jude13 · 13-10-2019 9:59am

^^We were thinking the same thing. Wooden ones are pricey though. We have the luxury of saying not toys as we had a luggage allowance to think about to bring them home.

Toto Wolfcastle · 13-10-2019 10:50am

As an aunt who doesn’t know what kids like, I’d love suggestions from the parents! Wouldn’t consider it rude at all.

You need to think about the lifetime of the toy though. If a good quality plastic toy is played with for years and then passed on to the charity shop in excellent condition, it’s probably a better choice than a non-plastic toy the child plays with a couple of times and discards. If a wooden toy will be as loved, happy days. I think one of the best things you can do to have a greener Christmas is to buy things people will really love and actually use.

meeeeh · 13-10-2019 11:06am

I don't usually reply in these threads because I'm not Christmas mad or particularly green but Christmas is time of excess. If you check what food was not eaten and what food was eaten just because it was there it can be reduced. Christmas jumpers are one of the most despicable items of clothing one can buy. Cheap tat made by poorly paid labour going straight to landfill so adults and children can look stupid in unflattering clothing. People going overboard with lights and using too much electricity making the house look tacky. Ugly plastic decorations bought on special in Lidl (or wherever else).

If anyone wants to be more green at Christmas then buying less would be good beginning. And banning Christmas jumpers. What material kids toys are made from is completely irrelevant if they don't play with them. (And I'm a big fan of wooden toys, I think Hape make some brilliant stuff).

Also among adults it is easy to agree not do gifts. It's not like most of them are appreciated.

jackboy · 13-10-2019 11:14am

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

As an aunt who doesn’t know what kids like, I’d love suggestions from the parents! Wouldn’t consider it rude at all.

You need to think about the lifetime of the toy though. If a good quality plastic toy is played with for years and then passed on to the charity shop in excellent condition, it’s probably a better choice than a non-plastic toy the child plays with a couple of times and discards. If a wooden toy will be as loved, happy days. I think one of the best things you can do to have a greener Christmas is to buy things people will really love and actually use.

In general wooden toys are more robust than most plastic toys. This is especially true of the plastic rubbish sold at the big chains such as smiths and world of wonder.

Children sometimes get bored of certain toys but then go back playing with them several months later. So, it is worth getting longer lasting toys, even if they are a bit more expensive.

Toto Wolfcastle · 13-10-2019 11:19am

jackboy wrote: »

In general wooden toys are more robust than most plastic toys. This is especially true of the plastic rubbish sold at the big chains such as smiths and world of wonder.

Children sometimes get bored of certain toys but then go back playing with them several months later. So, it is worth getting longer lasting toys, even if they are a bit more expensive.

The real problem is that children are too fickle. :pac:

zerosugarbuzz · 13-10-2019 11:20am

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't usually reply in these threads because I'm not Christmas mad or particularly green but Christmas is time of excess. If you check what food was not eaten and what food was eaten just because it was there it can be reduced. Christmas jumpers are one of the most despicable items of clothing one can buy. Cheap tat made by poorly paid labour going straight to landfill so adults and children can look stupid in unflattering clothing. People going overboard with lights and using too much electricity making the house look tacky. Ugly plastic decorations bought on special in Lidl (or wherever else).

If anyone wants to be more green at Christmas then buying less would be good beginning. And banning Christmas jumpers. What material kids toys are made from is completely irrelevant if they don't play with them. (And I'm a big fan of wooden toys, I think Hape make some brilliant stuff).

Also among adults it is easy to agree not do gifts. It's not like most of them are appreciated.

A lot of people really enjoy Christmas jumpers, not me I might add. Just purchase ones make of pure wool or even cotton. Knitting is making a come back so it should be easy enough to get one made.

goat2 · 13-10-2019 11:23am

Jude13 wrote: »

A real biodegradable tree, you can buy one from a farm that either chops the top off an existing, replants or you cna even get a potted one and put it back after christmas!

Funnily enough, I do own a tree with the past 20 yrs and think that by using this every year I do help save the planet, I call it re using it, has saved me a bomb also, as Ido see fresh trees are very expensive, and I am not complaining but , It seems to be a pure waste of ten good yrs of growth to cut down a fine plant just for the sake of one week, and then trying to compost it, would rather let it there growing cleaning the air as it does so, and my tree cost me 20 all those yrs ago

meeeeh · 13-10-2019 11:24am

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

A lot of people really enjoy Christmas jumpers, not me I might add. Just purchase ones make of pure wool or even cotton. Knitting is making a come back so it should be easy enough to get one made.

Well if someone wants to spend 100 Euro on something non plasticky that has antlers sticking out and intends to wear it year after year I have no objection. Nobody does though.

Toto Wolfcastle · 13-10-2019 11:25am

I think most people in this forum (and in general) wear the same Christmas jumpers every year. I don’t think people buy them, wear them a couple of times and bin them. The world is crap enough at the moment without a little bit of Christmas joy in it and I know Christmas jumpers make me happy throughout December.

goat2 · 13-10-2019 11:26am

When I see red trees, white trees and gold trees selling in shops, I do laugh, as I have never seen any of those colours on the trees in natural environment,

meeeeh · 13-10-2019 11:29am

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

I think most people in this forum (and in general) wear the same Christmas jumpers every year. I don’t think people buy them, wear them a couple of times and bin them. The world is crap enough at the moment without a little bit of Christmas joy in it and I know Christmas jumpers make me happy throughout December.

Clothing industry is one of the main polluters and build on very unethical working practices. I'm not sure it's where I would be looking for Christmas joy. And considering everybody even discounters are selling Christmas jumpers I very much doubt they are worn for years. They are ultimate disposable clothing item together with festival fashion and 15 Euro going out dresses.

Ironicname · 13-10-2019 11:39am

FFS. Greta has ruined Christmas now.

Zaph · 13-10-2019 11:46am

I think in principle buying wooden toys over plastic toys is a good idea, but I think the big problem is that kids these days are "more sophisticated", for want of a better description, than kids 50 years ago. You simply can't get the level of detail in a wooden toy that you can with a plastic one, so unless it's a present for quite a young kid there's a good chance they won't be satisfied with it and will lose interest very quickly. So the dilemma is then do you buy something "greener" that will essentially be discarded in no time, or something less green but gets played with over and over for a long time? If the kid likes reading or doing jigsaws, then obviously there's plenty of scope there, but I don't envy parents who are trying to do their bit for the environment if all their kid wants is the latest Barbie/action figure stable set/secret lair/whatever.

bee06 · 13-10-2019 1:09pm

Zaph wrote: »

I think in principle buying wooden toys over plastic toys is a good idea, but I think the big problem is that kids these days are "more sophisticated", for want of a better description, than kids 50 years ago. You simply can't get the level of detail in a wooden toy that you can with a plastic one, so unless it's a present for quite a young kid there's a good chance they won't be satisfied with it and will lose interest very quickly. So the dilemma is then do you buy something "greener" that will essentially be discarded in no time, or something less green but gets played with over and over for a long time? If the kid likes reading or doing jigsaws, then obviously there's plenty of scope there, but I don't envy parents who are trying to do their bit for the environment if all their kid wants is the latest Barbie/action figure stable set/secret lair/whatever.

I have an almost 2 year old so fickleness and the latest thing isn’t an issue. We got some terrible plastic toys last year which he had no interest in so that’s what’s driving my thought on requesting no plastic this year. I’d be delighted with jigsaws and books etc (and so would my little boy).

Posy · 13-10-2019 1:56pm

Like Toto said, I wouldn't mind at all if someone requested books/jigsaws. There is no point in wasting money on something the child/parents won't want! I'd definitely prefer to have guidance when shopping for kiddies.

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 1:58pm

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

I think most people in this forum (and in general) wear the same Christmas jumpers every year. I don’t think people buy them, wear them a couple of times and bin them. The world is crap enough at the moment without a little bit of Christmas joy in it and I know Christmas jumpers make me happy throughout December.

I have to say I totally agree with you here.
Most people I know may have one or two Christmas jumpers but they are worn for a few days over the festive period and then are put back in the wardrobe for next year. Those who do get rid of them generally give to charity.
Most guys I know get more wear out of there Christmas jumper than they do out of suits. Which may only be worn a few times before it gets dated and then nobody really wants it.
Christmas jumpers don't really date.

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 2:01pm

bee06 wrote: »

I have an almost 2 year old so fickleness and the latest thing isn’t an issue. We got some terrible plastic toys last year which he had no interest in so that’s what’s driving my thought on requesting no plastic this year. I’d be delighted with jigsaws and books etc (and so would my little boy).

Most people don't mind being told to get a certain thing for a kid once it's not a crazy expensive request.
My advice is just to say they want books to people.
If you go down the route of looking for environmentally friendly toys you could people under pressure.

Posy · 13-10-2019 2:02pm

I'm the same- mine (I think I have three) are put away and taken out again every Christmas, given a freshen up in the dryer with some bounce and are good to go.

bee06 · 13-10-2019 2:06pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Most people don't mind being told to get a certain thing for a kid once it's not a crazy expensive request.
My advice is just to say they want books to people.
If you go down the route of looking for environmentally friendly toys you could people under pressure.

I wasn’t going to request environmentally friendly toys ... just no plastic toys.

13-10-2019 2:11pm

I thought the whole plastic/climate thing was to do with single-use plastic?

I thought that was what people were combatting?

I'm 31 now and I still have loads of plastic wrestling toys in my house (mostly the attic, I admit, but i always said I'd put them on display somewhere in the house) but they have lasted, are still there and have been played with as toys for years, and then kept as collectibles for many more years.

I don't think denying kids a decent present is a good idea at all

I appreciate Christmas has turned into a Season of the year at this stage, rather than a month, but I still think it's a good thing to have that 'christmas joy' portion of the year without ruining it for kids by getting them 'santa hates me' jigsaw presents. Next generation won't bother with Christmas for their kids, if it was a load of sh/te when they were growing up.

I fully understand people giving out about excessive plastic being used on packaging, being used unnecessarily, etc. but I don't think Christmas Gifts are single-use, or are generally throwaway items anyway (unless you are just buying any old random tat to 'fill the stocking' or to post up all your gifts on facebook :rolleyes: ).

Besides, though I don't have kids myself, my brother's kids (6 and 8) are just looking for virtual gifts. Vouchers for videogames online and that kinda craic, so not all kids will be getting loads of plastic stuff they don't want anyway, by simply naturally not requesting it, themselves.

Same with artificial christmas trees.. I don't see the harm? We've had a good one that got about 10-12 years of use before it ended up in the bin. It's not (generally) a throwaway item.

iamwhoiam · 13-10-2019 2:13pm

Aldi do a great range of wooden toys in early December . Kitchens , pots , pans and wooden food . And a workbench and tools and baby toys too

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 2:14pm

bee06 wrote: »

I wasn’t going to request environmentally friendly toys ... just no plastic toys.

I understand where your coming from but I know if somebody made that request to me I'd feel like I'd have to go off and source some locally sourced hand built toy.

Loughc · 13-10-2019 2:47pm

KKV summed it up way better than I ever could.

Ironicname · 13-10-2019 3:09pm

Loughc wrote:

KKV summed it up way better than I ever could.

It's mostly about being "seen" to care about the environment rather than actually giving a ****.

iamwhoiam · 13-10-2019 3:14pm

We have Lego , Duplo , Playmobil and dolls here in my house for grandchildren. They were my kids toys and kept since 1980’s . Not all plastic is throwaway and lasts for generations .

I do agree about single use plastic though . Lego and Playmobil come in multiple little plastic bags which could easily be changed to paper bags .

bee06 · 13-10-2019 3:31pm

Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and hope for the best. It seems to be a controversial subject.

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 3:41pm

Loughc wrote: »

KKV summed it up way better than I ever could.

Personay I think a big reason why there is a lot of waste regariding Christmas decorations is because some people buy into fads.
One year they'd have a silver Christmad and a gold Christmas the next year.
We have stuff bought from Lidl, penneys, pound shops and some more expensive stuff and it's all last for years once you don't leave it fall.
We have two Christmad trees one is our main one and the second one was bought because we needed a smaller tree when my grandmother was alive because she needed more room.
The living room is full of colours and we sort of themed the tree in the hall.
Both the threes are old tough.
It's the same thing with our lights. They only get replaced when they break.
I don't know do people forgot they have decorations, loose them or do they change everything from year to year.

meeeeh · 13-10-2019 3:50pm

While I think Lego is great the amount we got for our son through the years is way excessive. But he loves it and it's still preferable to something he wouldn't play with. I got mine quite a lot of wooden toys, majority excluding Lego and drawing materials for our daughter but it only works till they start making Santa list.

For me what adults do and think they have to do is more damaging to the environment than some kids presents. I'm not a Grinch but I think sometimes people completely loose the run of themselves with buying more and more stuff just for the 'nice festive feeling'. If you don't eat cheese platter or brandy butter during the year it's safe to assume it won't all be eaten over Christmas. Even earlier someone mentioned reusing their three Christmas jumpers. Who needs three Christmas jumpers? Or giving them to charity? It's just pretense, what are charities going to do with acrylic jumper sold for 10 Euro new? Who here ever bought their Christmas jumper in charity shop? In comparison decent suit (wool) that might not be worn often can be sold again or even recycled.. And just to add seasonal spirit we can do without plastic skeletons and plastic rop gravestones in October and I'm sure we could survive without Santa climbing up the side of the house in December.

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 4:06pm

meeeeh wrote: »

For me what adults do and think they have to do is more damaging to the environment than some kids presents. I'm not a Grinch but I think sometimes people completely loose the run of themselves with buying more and more stuff just for the 'nice festive feeling'. If you don't eat cheese platter or brandy butter during the year it's safe to assume it won't all be eaten over Christmas. Even earlier someone mentioned reusing their three Christmas jumpers. Who needs three Christmas jumpers? Or giving them to charity? It's just pretense, what are charities going to do with acrylic jumper sold for 10 Euro new? Who here ever bought their Christmas jumper in charity shop? In comparison decent suit (wool) that might not be worn often can be sold again or even recycled..

I'd buy brandy butter/cream because it goes with mince pies and desserts during the Christmas season.
I wouldn't buy a lot of salads or summer desserts during the Winter season tough.
I don't buy wintery foods in generally tough during the Summer season.
I think lots of people might buy a bit of cheese for themselves or guests at Christmas because it's generally a period where people have visitors and it's nice to have something nice in.
Christmas is a special occasion so it's to have something a bit special in.
Lot's of work places wear Christmas jumpers over the Christmas season. So unless you wear the same one again and again for a few weeks. You'll need more than one.
Well I have heard of people buying Christmas jumpers in charity shops for a fee euro.
I stand buy what I said about suits. Most guys I know rarely wear suits and when they do they nearly have to get a new one because there current one is looking dated and they would have being good quality suits when purchased.

Toto Wolfcastle · 13-10-2019 4:12pm

bee06 wrote: »

Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and hope for the best. It seems to be a controversial subject.

Ah no, you should do what you feel is best for your own situation. You could test it out with a couple of relatives to begin with. Honestly, people love a little guidance from parents!

freshpopcorn · 13-10-2019 4:16pm

bee06 wrote: »

Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and hope for the best. It seems to be a controversial subject.

Just to note I'm just saying bot to ask for certain things but becareful how you word it. If your friends with people tough ye may have similar views on subjects.

Posy · 13-10-2019 4:40pm

bee06 wrote: »

Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and hope for the best. It seems to be a controversial subject.

Definitely don't!
Like if your child likes lego, a simple "sure, anything lego related and (s)he'll be delighted" would be enough. No harm in lego, if they are still playing with it when they're ten and above.

As KVV said, you are trying to avoid things your child doesn't want or isn't interested in, that will end up in a bin or charity shop window.

You're not necessarily saying only get my child a wooden toy that you have crafted yourself, you are just pointing out that they love jigsaws or Mr Men books and so on.
It's about combating excess waste, than anything else, really.

I'd hate to spend my money on a fancy set of steak knives only to be told that your two year old won't be allowed to play with them. :pac:

Toto Wolfcastle · 13-10-2019 5:06pm

Posy wrote: »

I'd hate to spend my money on a fancy set of steak knives only to be told that your two year old won't be allowed to play with them. :pac:

Health and safety gone mad. :mad:

Posy · 13-10-2019 5:36pm

Snowflake generation.

13-10-2019 7:10pm

meeeeh wrote: »

While I think Lego is great the amount we got for our son through the years is way excessive. But he loves it and it's still preferable to something he wouldn't play with. I got mine quite a lot of wooden toys, majority excluding Lego and drawing materials for our daughter but it only works till they start making Santa list.

For me what adults do and think they have to do is more damaging to the environment than some kids presents. I'm not a Grinch but I think sometimes people completely loose the run of themselves with buying more and more stuff just for the 'nice festive feeling'. If you don't eat cheese platter or brandy butter during the year it's safe to assume it won't all be eaten over Christmas. Even earlier someone mentioned reusing their three Christmas jumpers. Who needs three Christmas jumpers? Or giving them to charity? It's just pretense, what are charities going to do with acrylic jumper sold for 10 Euro new? Who here ever bought their Christmas jumper in charity shop? In comparison decent suit (wool) that might not be worn often can be sold again or even recycled.. And just to add seasonal spirit we can do without plastic skeletons and plastic rop gravestones in October and I'm sure we could survive without Santa climbing up the side of the house in December.

Spot on Meeeeh , I agree with everything in your post

Posy · 13-10-2019 7:26pm

This thread is verging towards an anti-Christmas sentiment at the moment.
Please, folks, remember the forum you are in. If you want to have a serious discussion about climate change and other environmental issues, there are other places on Boards where that can be facilitated.

mirrorwall14 · 13-10-2019 10:40pm

The biggest green push I’m making for christmas is banning entirely the buying of magazines (with toys attached), sweets (with toys in them) and all the day to day rubbish people buy my kids from Halloween to Christmas. No gifts. Want to get him something? Get a pack of buttons or a drink or bring them to the playground. The main way to reduce rubbish in my house is not the one big gift they get at Christmas, but the small bitty junk that builds up over the head.

I’m also looking at reusable crackers. I might be mad and I love a cracker but my god the waste last year was horrifying and the gifts are complete tat. I think I’ll fill my own this year with one sweet or something!

Lord Spence · 14-10-2019 12:25am

Posy wrote: »

This thread is verging towards an anti-Christmas sentiment at the moment.
Please, folks, remember the forum you are in. If you want to have a serious discussion about climate change and other environmental issues, there are other places on Boards where that can be facilitated.

Well said, it looks like some misery humbugs found a crack in the Christmas forum wall and are trying to take full advantage. Myself, I'm looking forward to buying 5 new Christmas jumpers, giant santas for display , tacky multicoloured Christmas lights all over my house and a massive cheese board platter ðŸ˜... Merry Christmas ya filthy animals

CheerLouth · 14-10-2019 10:17am

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

I’m also looking at reusable crackers. I might be mad and I love a cracker but my god the waste last year was horrifying and the gifts are complete tat. I think I’ll fill my own this year with one sweet or something!

I'm also thinking of this - or making my own.

The one thing that we are doing this year is not buying my nieces presents. Myself and my sister have decided to bunce together to get an annual zoo pass - it'll be 90 euro each but that way both families will have a ticket and we can go whenever we like

And just a note on the jumpers - someone mentioned it should be easy to get someone to make one seeing as how knitting and crocheting are coming back; most people don't want to pay the price for a homemade jumper. The wool alone could cost up to 20euro & then there are the many many hours that go into making a jumper by hand.

TRS30 · 15-10-2019 8:35am

CheerLouth wrote: »

I'm also thinking of this - or making my own.

The one thing that we are doing this year is not buying my nieces presents. Myself and my sister have decided to bunce together to get an annual zoo pass - it'll be 90 euro each but that way both families will have a ticket and we can go whenever we like

And just a note on the jumpers - someone mentioned it should be easy to get someone to make one seeing as how knitting and crocheting are coming back; most people don't want to pay the price for a homemade jumper. The wool alone could cost up to 20euro & then there are the many many hours that go into making a jumper by hand.

Great idea for the zoo pass, think we (wife & I) are going to ask for that as a group present from family.

CheerLouth · 15-10-2019 10:24am

TRS30 wrote: »

Great idea for the zoo pass, think we (wife & I) are going to ask for that as a group present from family.

It's a great present & you can use it in Fota too if you are ever down that way!

freshpopcorn · 15-10-2019 2:06pm

Good enough selection of wooden toys available at Lidl from Monday 21st October!

https://www.lidl.ie/en/c/christmas-toys/c985/w2

Green Christmas

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