Becca's Eco Christmas (Soon to be yours too!)

IYA LUV!

Here it is - Becca's Eco Christmas blog!

If you haven't already seen it, here is the link to my YouTube video to go with this blog post. 

https://youtu.be/4_4yeKgyOkU

Essentially, this year has been CRAZY and what I want to do is hopefully give you some hints and tips as to how you can be economically and environmentally friendly and not spend the earth over the Christmas period. 

Now, if you're like me and not currently working, you might be a little bit concerned at how best to approach the festive season. 

First thing's first: plan ahead!

• Write yourself a LIST of people you want to buy presents for and send cards to. Make sure that these are separate lists - I often find it easier to know what I have and don't have left to buy later down the line. 
• Set yourself a BUDGET for presents, wrapping and postage and STICK TO IT! You can only spend within your means and know that that is more than enough to show love and appreciation in the gifts you give. 
• USE WHAT YOU HAVE! Remember those gift sets you bought in the January sale? What about the left over wrapping paper from last year? Make sure you utilise those and is could save you a fair few pounds. 

Next up: shop small!

By shopping with small, independent businesses; you are helping our economy grow (and we all know how much it's currently struggling!) 

Often sales to small business owner's mean so much more, because you are purchasing from their unique, stand alone brand. Items will be made with love and care instead of being mass-produced with an immense amount of excess and unnecessary waste. 

It is economically friendlier to shop local and shop small, so to get you started, here is a list of small business's that I've put together that you might want to check out:

Kou Kou Kreations

linktr.ee/koukoukreations 

Papercloud London www.etsy.com/uk/shop/papercloudlondon 

The Little Things

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LittleThingsByThea?ele=shop_open

Isabella Daisy Designs 

https://www.isabelladaisydesigns.com/

Just Like We Dreamed It 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustLikeWeDreamedIt

Philosophy Candle Co

https://philosophycandleco.co.uk/password

Keep it Bright

https://www.keepitbright.co.uk/

Federal

https://www.federalcafe.co.uk/

Funky Gal

depop.com/funkygirlearrings

Peach Soda Jewellery

@peachsodajewellery (Instagram)

Faith's Made Tokens

@fmt22_5 (Instagram)

Classic Becca

linktr.ee/Classicbecca

Online Sweet Company

@onlinesweetcompany (Facebook and Instagram)

Be Your Best

@bybwellbeing (Instragram)

By Martha

@bymarthaa_ (Instagram)

That's Art For You

@thatsartforyou (Facebook and Instagram)

Art by Laura Nash

artbylaurenash.com 

Bbresindesigns

depop.com/bethanyburrows

Grace Cherry Embroidery 🍒

@embroidcherry (Instagram)

Fabstract UK

www.fabstractuk.etsy.com/

2B or not 2B

www.2bornot2b.co.uk

Katie Hargreaves Art

www.katiehargreavesart.com/

Just So Design

linktr.ee/justsodesign

Marmeren Sky

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MarmerenSky

Pencil and Grace

www.etsy.com/shop/pencilandgrace

TheNaturClub

www.thenaturclub.com/

The Flood Clothing Co.

floodclothingco.com/

F-O-O-F

www.foofdesigns.com/

Tamara Art

www.tamara-art.co.uk/

Flourish

www.flourish.company/

Down The Hatch Liverpool

www.downthehatchliv.co.uk/

May and Merrick

etsy.me/2SPmYeC

Elef. 

@e.1.e.f (Instagram)

Art and Ink

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ArtandInkbyEm

Little Meraki by Lydia Cashman

@littlemerakibylydia (Instagram)

Jopp Jewellery

www.madebyjopp.co.uk/shop

Urban Bear Co

etsy.com/uk/shop/urbanbearco/

Works_.of_art

@works.of._art (Instagram)

Bow Peep

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BowPeepBySarah

Lo&Wo

@lo_and_wo (Instagram)

Lavandi

https://lavandi.co.uk/

Soraya

linktr.ee/soraya_vintage

Waters_Witches

etsy.me/32Z0qNz

Little Crafting Badger

@littlecraftingbadger (Instagram and soon to be on Etsy)

Drawn by Rachel

etsy.com/shop/drawnbyrachael

Treddling Woman

linktr.ee/treddlingwoman

Little jo threads

etsy.me/30RM55A

Melon makes things

www.etsy.com/shop/MelonMakesThings

Dusk Bunny
@dusk_bunnyaccessories

Muno.clothing

munoclothing.bigcartel.com/

Scribble steph

linktr.ee/ScribblesBySteph

Elizabeth Lilly | Scrunchies

@elizabeth_lily (Instagram)

Cedar.

cedarlifestyle.co.uk/

The castle kitchen company

www.thecastlekitchenco.com/

Holly Emily Designs

www.hollyemilydesigns.etsy.com/

EMP Nails & Beauty

@e.m.p_nailsandbeauty (Instagram)

Feel free to come back to this list as frequently as you want to, to check these businesses out. As I mentioned in my YouTube video, often, when you follow these pages on social media, other small businesses will be suggested to you to follow. Keep following, supporting and shopping small!

Last, but by no means least... let's talk wrapping and cards!

On average per year, how much wrapping paper does your household usually dispose of each Christmas?

For us, it's usually 2/2.5 bin bags full.

Now how much of that wrapping paper is biodegradable/recyclable? 

Your wrapping paper might have felt on it, glitter, a shiny plastic film over the top but truth is, it isn't biodegradable and it's bad for the environment. Sadly, a lot of high-street retailers mass produce these kinds of gift wrap and our carbon footprint gets bigger!

Never fear though, I have some solutions for you!

Brown craft paper rolls, available at most craft shops/supermarkets for £1/£2 and Twine, are both completely biodegrable and or recyclable! Straight away you have a perfect, eco-friendly alternative for your gift wrapping needs. 

You'll also find that certain stores have now started to advertise the fact their wrapping is recyclable, Wilko being one of them!

I also bought some recyclable gift tags which come with their own set of twine handles too, and they were 85p from Wilko too! WINNER WINNER!

There are loads of eco-friendly wrapping alternatives and I wanted to share this video with you from Zero Waste Cartel, which I got a lot of ideas from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebj_qSGUxU

Lastly, cards!

They're a tricky thing really because I, personally, would say that there are even less eco friendly options in most high-street shops when it comes to cards, BUT, my solution is this...

MAKE YOUR OWN!

Get creative with a pack of blank cards which are 100% recyclable. I bought a pack of 30 from The Works and that will do me for Christmas this year and potentially next year too!

Just think of the planet thanking you for how little waste you're exposing of!!

Something useful to bare in mind too is that biodegradable tape is a SHOUT! You can buy on amazon... you're welcome!

So there you have it, my guide to being environmentally friendly and economically friendly this Christmas... and every Christmas hereafter! It's more important than it ever has been to do what you can to help our planet, reduce your carbon footprint and boost your economy by shopping small. 

Make good choices and have the best Christmas! 

Lots of love, 

Rebecca x

P.S. If you enjoyed this blog and the YouTube video too, don't forget to like and subscribe! I'm on my way to 100 subscribers and would love to get there before Halloween! 

P.P.S. Here is a fantastic YouTube tutorial on eco-friendly gift wrap and how to make them look super fancy from Zero Waste Cartel. I take a huge amount of inspiration from their channel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebj_qSGUxU