Much as we all love the joy of Christmas, there cannot be one of us that doesn’t feel a little bit guilty about the waste and excess that results from a such a jolly good time. Presents, food, drink, festive extras – there just seem to be more and more of everything these days from Christmas jumpers, to Elves on Shelves, to 3D Advent calendars! Progress is progress as they say, but we believe that we can all do our bit to have a more ‘resourceful little Christmas’. Here is our guide to doing your bit, whether it’s recycling, up-cycling, making an informed choice about what you are spending your money on, or doing that little bit extra for a deserving cause – we hope that this will give you some food for thought at least. Obviously you can go through your normal recycling routines with paper waste, packaging and food, but at this time of year, there are plenty of schemes out there to inspire you.
This is a work in progress – and we will be adding to the ‘databank’ as we become aware of more cunning schemes, so please share any with us that you are aware of. And above all, have yourself very merry, but above all resourceful little Christmas!
Kicking off, here are some ideas for SHOPPING FOR CHARITY!
Most charities and charity shops are well stocked with festive delights at this time of year, and you will no doubt have your favourites. And many of us will routinely buy charity Christmas cards. On that note, last year we compiled our ‘charity card buyers’ guide’ to which charity Christmas card schemes benefit their charities most generously, so do check that out here.
Here are some other ideas as to how your Christmas shopping can benefit a charity or cause of your choice:
- Twin Hats – an amazing spin off from the charity Cancer Hair Care, which helps people to cope with hair loss during cancer treatment, Twin Hats seeks to provide children with cancer with a specialist hat to help them maintain some self esteem at this most difficult time. All you have to do is buy one of their beautiful ethically sourced winter hats, which come in a wide range of shapes and sizes for all the family, and they will be able to donate one to a child suffering with cancer this Christmas.
- Easyfundraising – the extremely popular shopping portal which donates money to your chosen charity simply for clicking on them first. Set up an account, download the app and install their widget on your PC, and you all set to ensure that every penny you spend online this Christmas will benefit the charity of your choice. It features all of the most popular retailers and then some including Amazon, eBay, M&S, John Lewis, plus many more, and your weekly grocery shop can also be made to count, because all the major supermarkets are on there too. It literally takes no extra effort once you’ve registered and you can watch the money roll in!
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
- Oxfam Unwrapped – One of the first charity to cotton on to the power of the tangible ‘act of goodness’ the Oxfam Unwrapped range provides you with the opportunity to present, not only your lucky gift recipient with a truly selfless Christmas present, but safe water for a desperate village in Zambia for example, midwifery care for women in Gabon or mosquito nets for many countries around the world in desperate need. Best of all they will send it to you in a ‘wrappable’ and ‘presentable’ form ready to put underneath the Christmas tree. This truly wonderful gift really is the gift that keeps on giving!
If you know of any other charity based shopping opportunities, please email us at info@wnwn.org.uk and we will add it to this article. Thank you for your help!
Next on the agenda:
- A Handmade Christmas!
- Waste Less at Christmas!
