A sustainable Christmas needn’t be bah humbug

By all means come bearing festive gifts – but think twice before buying a jumper with a reindeer on it

‘Tis the season to be thriftless. That’s right, folks, the capitalist beast called Christmas is upon us.

And spare a thought for us lifestyle journalists, who are bombarded with festive emails as early as July. For the past six months, my inbox has been invaded by every possible iteration of Christmas gift idea, from the run-of-the-mill to the truly absurd. Alongside the usual wreaths, hampers and tipples, I’ve been recommended post-poo sprays, a Birds Eye fish finger fragrance, CBD mince pies and advent calendars for your pet.

And yet while retailers find ever more creative with ways to part us from our hard-earned cash, shoppers are increasingly seeking to enjoy Christmas as sustainably as possible.