Nicola Connolly from
Nunaïa gives her top sustainable Christmas tips.
The Irish beauty brand is among the world’s top 100+ most sustainable brands.
Gifting
Nicola says consciously select the gifts you are going to give to avoid impulse purchases and last minute picks. I like to really think about the person I am gifting and give them something I know they will love and appreciate again and again.
I love to gift experiences. Last year I gifted my partner a bread making course at Riot Rye Bakery in Cloughjordan Eco Village. This was wonderful as he learnt how to make great sourdough bread and we all got to enjoy fresh home-baked bread afterwards.
Last year we also saw lots of people gifting our ritual skincare workshops alongside our skincare products to offer more than just a skincare product. See
www.nunaia.com for more information.
Decorating
I love to forage for my Christmas decorations. I head out into the woods and harvest holly, ivy and eucalyptus branches. I then decorate our mantelpiece and table settings with fresh foliage. Not only does this look great but it also smells wonderful.
Choose eco-friendly LED Christmas lights. These use 80 – 90% less energy which means a lower bill for you and less emissions for the environment. Typically LED Christmas lights last up to 50,000 hours versus 3,000 hours for traditional Christmas lights so you could re-use your lights for up to 40 years.
Opt for a potted Christmas tree that can be kept outside until next year or planted out in the garden where it can continue to sequester carbon.
Food
Choose a low-carbon Christmas dinner. Ask your butcher for a locally-reared, organic turkey which typically has a lower carbon footprint than beef. By buying organic you are helping to protect biodiversity and local ecosystems. Choose seasonal, locally-grown veg.