Small business owner urges families to ditch the tinsel and shop sustainable decor this Christmas

According to a study conducted by Business Waste on more than 1000 UK households, 99 percent of individuals put Christmas cracker gifts in the bin at the end of the day.

81 percent of the 1100 households polled admitted to using a plastic tablecloth that they threw away at the end of the holiday season.

The bulk of the plastic produced during the holiday season is single-use products.

With disposable napkins, tablecloths and other single-use items that are destined for the bin come Boxing Day, families are being encouraged to decorate their homes more sustainably this Christmas.

Susan Bonnar runs The British Craft House (TBCH) and believes more people should consider organic and handmade decor to deck their halls.

Her online selling platform houses only vendors that design and hand-make their products here in the UK. Many of them are already gearing up for the Christmas period with their festive wares already on sale.

She said: “When you sit back and think about it, it's actually pretty shocking how much we buy every year just to throw away. Take tinsel for example, it’s made completely out of plastic and, while you can reuse it, it won’t last long before you’ll need to throw it away and send more plastic into landfill.

“The same goes with baubles - cheap plastic ones will last a few years at best and will eventually become dented and will go in the bin. Something with sentimental value will be much more valued and will potentially even last for generations to come. For me, it’s a way of adding something a little more special into Christmas.”

One of the swaps Susan recommends is opting for paper decorations rather than plastic tinsel.

She also recommends people choose handmade baubles that can be reused for years to come, either repurposed out of old household items like TBCH’s spoon decorations or made from sustainable materials like glass, instead of cheap, flimsy plastic decor.

Plastic straws are an obvious no-go all-year-round, but TBCH’s personalised metal straws make a great alternative, and also make a great swap for a Christmas cracker gift that will eventually find its way into landfill.

A hand-crocheted stocking is another nice way to add a personal touch come Christmas morning.

Susan said: “Christmas is more than just decorating your house and buying things just because you think you should. I love the idea that you can add a personalised touch to your festivities and, while you do so, support a small business and look after the planet.”