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How to have an eco-friendly Christmas
Christmas need not be a frenzy of shopping and unwanted gifts. More and more of us want to be mindful and minimal waste consumers. So here are some tips on how to have an eco-friendly Christmas.
How to have an eco-friendly tree and decorations?
Real trees are more sustainable than artificial, but there is still a lot of waste. Once Christmas is over, go to recyclenow.com to find out about drop-off points in your area where old trees get turned into chipping for local parks and woodland areas.
Alternatively, consider renting a real tree that is replanted once you're done. The same goes for wreaths. Real and, if you're on a budget, you can always make your own from foliage, red berries or mistletoe that you can pick up in a park or wood.
For decorations, switch to LED lights, which use up to 80% less energy and can last up to 25 times longer. And if you enjoy the cosy glow of candles, then choose natural rather than paraffin-based. It's more sustainable and better for your health.
For decorations themselves, be sure to reuse them each year. If you'd like to add to your collection, look for ones made from brass, glass or wood, ideally from local or independent shops. You can also make your own decorations. And if you want to add some sparkle, then choose biodegradable glitter. Check out ecoglitterfun to find some.
What about gifts?
When it comes to gifts, buying second-hand is a great way to help the planet. There are plenty of options. You could even set up a pre-Christmas swap shop, where you swap your unwanted things with friends, and you all end up with something new, well at least to you.
Alternatively, you can offer experiences rather than gifts, like tickets to a show, or an event, or even a treatment at a spa. If you want to buy new, consider independent stores or small companies, but do check out their fair trade credentials and their carbon footprint.
Also, don't forget wrapping paper. Many rolls contain non-recyclable elements like foil, glitter or plastic. Opt instead for recycled paper or just plain brown paper and cheer it up with a ribbon or a sprig of foliage. Or even wrap gifts with colourful fabric squares that can be reused again and again.
What about the meal?
If you're hosting for more people than you have cutlery or glasses for, you could rent or ask friends and family to bring their own. Disposable cutlery, plates and cups are often single-use plastic and end up going straight to the landfill. And once the meal is over, try composting the leftover food rather than throwing it away.
Finally, you surely want to look your best, but sequins are made from PVC with no biodegradable substitutes. Choose instead sustainable materials or try clothes swapping or second-hand apps like Vinted or Swopped to find your perfect Christmas outfit. There you have it.
词汇表
frenzy [ˈfrenzi] n. 狂热,疯狂,狂欢
unwanted [ˌʌnˈwɒntɪd] adj. 不需要的,无用的,闲置的
minimal [ˈmɪnɪməl] adj. 尽可能少的,最低限度的
drop-off point 回收点,投放点
chipping [ˈtʃɪpɪŋ] n. (石或木等)碎屑
woodland [ˈwʊdlənd] n. 林地,树林,林区
alternatively [ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvli] adv. (引出另一种选择)要不,或者,另外
wreath [riːθ] n. 花环,花冠,花圈
on a budget [ˈbʌdʒɪt] 预算有限的,手头紧
foliage [ˈfəʊliɪdʒ] n. 叶子,枝叶,树叶
mistletoe [ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ] n. 槲寄生
cosy [ˈkəʊzi] adj. 温暖舒适的,温馨的
paraffin [ˈpærəfɪn] n. 石蜡,煤油
brass [brɑːs] n. 黄铜,黄铜制品
sparkle [ˈspɑːk(ə)l] n. 闪光,闪烁,闪耀
biodegradable [ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəb(ə)l] adj. 可生物降解的
glitter [ˈɡlɪtə(r)] n. 闪粉,亮片,闪光小饰物
swap shop [swɒp] 物品交换处,二手交换集市
spa [spɑː] n. 水疗中心,矿泉疗养地
fair trade credential [krɪˈdenʃ(ə)l] 公平贸易认证
carbon footprint [ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt] 碳足迹,碳排放量
wrapping paper [ˈræpɪŋ] (礼品)包装纸
roll [rəʊl] n. (布、纸等)一卷,卷轴,卷筒
foil [fɔɪl] n. (包裹食物的)箔,箔纸
recycled paper [ˌriːˈsaɪk(ə)ld] 再生纸,回收纸
brown paper [braʊn] 牛皮纸,棕色打包纸
cheer something up 点缀,装饰,增添趣味
ribbon [ˈrɪbən] n. 丝带,缎带,装饰带
sprig [sprɪɡ] (烹饪或装饰用)带叶小枝
fabric square [ˈfæbrɪk skweə(r)] n. 布块,方巾
cutlery [ˈkʌtləri] n. (刀、叉、勺等)餐具
disposable [dɪˈspəʊzəb(ə)l] adj. 一次性的,用后即弃的
landfill [ˈlændfɪl] n. 垃圾填埋,垃圾填埋场
composting [ˈkɒmpɒstɪŋ] n. 堆肥处理
leftover food [ˈleftəʊvə(r)] 剩菜剩饭,剩余食物
sequin [ˈsiːkwɪn] n. (衣物上的)亮片
PVC n. 聚氯乙烯(一种塑料)
outfit [ˈaʊtfɪt] n. (特定场合的)全套服装,装扮,装束
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