How To Save on Waste This Christmas.

If the thought of Christmas mess is already stressing you out, then you're not the only one. According to Business Waste, the level of general waste produced increases by 30% at Christmas time, compared to the rest of the year. With all that excess food and wrapping paper, it's not hard to see why.

If you want to do your bit for the planet - and your pocket - this year, then keep reading. We've put together a handy guide on how to cut back on waste this Christmas period.

Meal plan for the festive season.

Look, we get it. One walk through Lidl and you want every single thing from their festive food range. Many of us end up overstocking on the Christmas snacks, which is why we suggest meticulously planning your meals over the festive period. From Christmas dinner itself, to the various events you may be hosting, try and be resourceful with your food. There are so many ways you can use up your Xmas leftovers - turkey sandwiches, festive soup, offering out your left over chocolates instead of making an elaborate dessert, the options are endless. 

Shop plastic free when you can.

We can all relate to a room full of discarded wrapping paper, gift tags and LOTS of plastic waste, once the present opening has finished. Why not try to shop plastic free this year? Theres a tonne of ways you can give a gorgeous gift that doesn't compromise the planet - take our plastic free Christmas Giftsets, for example. You can even grab them for half price for a limited time only. Don't say we don't treat you.

Reuse your wrapping paper.

Why not get creative this year, and recycle some newspapers/magazines for your gift wrapping? These can look super cute and they save on buying rolls upon rolls of wrapping paper. Another useful idea is saving any gift bags you've been given on Christmas and birthdays - they're perfect to pop your pressies in, and will help you save a small fortune on buying brand new ones.

Compost your leftovers.

If you've got green fingers, this one is for you. Save up all those potato + carrot peelings and compost them in your garden. Not only is this great for the planet, it stops you clogging up your bin with stuff that *might* start to smell pretty quickly. These will help your plants to thrive - they're full of nutrients like Vitamin C and calcium. Just pop into your soil, and you're ready to grow.

Make your own Christmas crackers.

Why not try your hand at making your own Christmas crackers this year? This is a surprisingly easy task, plus it makes for a great way to keep your kids entertained once the Christmas holidays have commenced - just keep hold of your toilet roll tubes and follow these super easy instructions. You can have a load of fun writing your own jokes and even popping in the most random of 'prizes' - the funnier, the better.

Switch off those lights!

In times like these, it's important to keep an eye on how much energy we're using - for both our pockets' and the planet's sake. Waste less electricity this Christmas by rememebering to switch off those tree lights when you can. If you still want to create a festive atmosphere, you can create a beautiful effect with candles - they electricity free and look super cute. Just remember not to leave them unattended!