Retail footfall figures could be the final nail in the coffin for the annual “retail festival” of Black Friday. Amidst a perfect storm of high inflation, energy costs and sustainability concerns, the usual lustre of tempting discounts was missing in 2022.
The Guardian reported lower footfall figures than pre-pandemic levels, compounded with football fever and warmer temperatures. But is this a sign of things to come, particularly with the carbon footprint of Christmas shopping?
The carbon footprint of Christmas shopping: the facts
All those delivery vans, Christmas wrap and extra packaging add up. In fact, it’s estimated that 3% of the national carbon footprint is generated at Christmas, along with:
- Three days of Christmas festivities generate 650 kg of CO2 emissions per person
- The average household generates 115kg of waste each Christmas
- More than 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging is generated over the festive period
While all of these come from simple gifting or cooking family meals, there’s also a lot to be said for unwanted Christmas gifts. In Britain, we spend more than £5 billion a year on gifts that are not wanted, and 6.1% of us admit to throwing these gifts away. A 2019 study revealed that 22 million gifts will be sent to landfill, equating to around two gifts per person.
Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
In the traditional sense, of course, we think back to the Nativity and the Three Kings. But in modern times, with the over-commercialisation of Christmas, our motives have shifted. Financial expert Martin Lewis suggests we’ve moved away from the rational reasons behind gift-giving: for example, preparing young newlyweds for married life.
Instead, he argues, the retail frenzy of Christmas is putting an unfair obligation on others. They may feel they have to match the spending of their loved ones, which effectively means nobody really benefits.
While there is no need to take a Scrooge-esque approach to Christmas, we can reframe our thinking and show others we love them in other ways.
How can we celebrate Christmas sustainably?
Some of the best Christmas gifts need not involve material possessions at all. In a 2018 YouGov study, the two “best things about Christmas” were named as seeing family or socialising with friends. An incredible 85% of people said they loved seeing family – whereas buying gifts ranked in fourth place at just 60%.
An eco-conscious trip to see loved ones (for example, taking public transport or using electric vehicles) is a heartfelt alternative to unwanted gifts. If this is not possible, a video call can make all the difference – and companies like Zoom are lifting call time restrictions over the festive season.
Buying from ethical suppliers
If we must consume, then we can consume sustainably. Look for labels such as vegan friendly or eco-friendly. Accreditations to look out for include:
- Forest Stewardship Council
- The Vegan Society
- Leaping Bunny
- PETA
- Global Organic Textile Standard
- Rainforest Alliance
- Fairtrade.
You can also buy from local businesses to reduce the distance your presents have travelled, or consider eco-friendly gifts such as plantable seed bombs. Better still, a contribution to a charity in your loved one’s name will make a lasting impact on the planet. The WWF has a Christmas gift guide that reinvests into saving endangered species.
The takeaways
There is no reason why Christmas cannot be a warm and festive period without significantly impacting the planet. We can make a difference by educating ourselves – both on the footprint of Christmas, and how we can choose better suppliers.
If nothing else, a sustainable Christmas is easier on the wallet, too! We’d like to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas from the team at Hubba. Find out more about how we’re innovating for a sustainable future.