5 simple, sustainable swaps for Christmas that don’t cost the earth

The most wonderful time of the year may not have the best reputation when it comes to sustainability, but it’s still possible to have a very merry Christmas without compromising on your ethics.

While eco-friendly items like wooden toys and ethical fashion can often cost a pretty penny, here are a few simple, sustainable Christmas swaps you can make while sticking to your budget.

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1. Shop secondhand for a sustainable party outfit

Hoping to shine like a Christmas star when the big day rolls around? There’s no need to splurge on a brand new outfit you’ll only wear once. Instead, search eBay for your favourite high street brands — there are plenty of preloved party outfits and Christmas jumpers in circulation that have had very minimal wear. Pick a look you can accessorise differently year after year for extra eco points.

Top tip: set an alarm on your phone, so you can swoop in with the topmost bid, and check out our eBay codes to cut the cost of your purchase.

2. Deck the halls with sustainable Christmas decorations

While the most sustainable Christmas decorations are the ones you already own, you may be on the hunt for a few extra baubles to add some holiday spirit to your home. Head straight to

Amazon for eco-friendly budget ornaments — these simple but long-lasting wooden snowflakes will give your tree a Scandi feel. Add some atmosphere with pretty tissue paper lanterns and pom-poms to turn your house into a grotto.

Why not finish off the look with some fresh Christmas foliage or a few springs of holly? Any excuse to pack a thermos of mulled wine and enjoy a festive winter walk!

3. Get creative with these DIY eco-friendly Christmas crackers

Christmas crackers are renowned for two things — dad jokes and the little gifts that go straight in the bin on their route to a landfill. But, when it comes to an eco-friendly Christmas, do you really have to let your crackers go?

Instead of a box of the usual suspects, you could hop onto Etsy to purchase some DIY sustainable Christmas crackers, made from fully recyclable materials, for just a few quid.
What gifts can you put inside homemade Christmas crackers? There are plenty of sustainable options! From tasty truffles and pieces of fudge to homemade bath bombs and candles, you could use your Christmas cracker project as an excuse to get crafty with pals. You could even give Mother Nature a nod with a packet of mystery seeds and a note to ‘just add water’.

Don’t forget to include a paper crown in each, or Christmas dinner just won’t be the same.

4. Choose sustainable wrapping paper and eco-friendly Christmas cards

Say no to microplastics this Christmas and make those gifts look enticing in an eco-friendly way. While

Paperchase and Not On The High Street have some truly beautiful options, you’ll find the cheapest sustainable wrapping paper rolls on Amazon and Etsy.

Of course, there’s always the option to go even cheaper with some recyclable brown paper and string — add in a sprig of festive foliage, and you’ll have your sustainable Christmas all wrapped up.

Looking for budget and eco-friendly Christmas cards? Turn to John Lewis for bumper packs of charity cards made from recycled paper with not a sparkle in sight. Plus, the brand has pledged to donate a hefty £330,000 to a selection of worthy charities, so you can feel the warm glow of giving back as you tick cards off your Christmas list.

5. Shop these cheap, wooden Christmas toys

Add some sustainable Christmas gifts for the kids to your holiday shopping list and swerve all that pesky plastic. While books are a great idea, they won’t hit the spot for every kid, and while wooden Christmas toys may be beautiful, they are often out of budget. Or are they?

Not if you shop the beautiful wooden toys at Aldi — a collection even Santa’s elves would be proud of! Focus on choosing toys that will get the most use out of them, like this adorable balance bike. Decorated in subtle colours, these toys will fit in nicely with any home’s decor and are far more sustainable than their plastic counterparts. Plus, they look far more expensive than they really are and will deliver the ‘wow’ factor on Christmas Day.


Cut the cost of the holiday season with our discount codes from all your favourite brands. A quick scroll through vouchercloud will give you everything you need for a magical Christmas on a budget.