Swapseas! Five Christmas swaps you can make for our seas

Wild Coast Sussex 

At this stressful time of year, the environment can often be the least of our concerns but, with consumption at an all-time high over the festive period, we can all try to make one small swap for our seas. You could call it a… ‘swapsea’!

Here are our five top Christmas ‘swapseas’, keeping everything as budget and time-friendly as possible. Sustainability means taking care of yourself too – burnout is real so please don’t put pressure on yourself.

1) Rent a Christmas tree

One of THE coolest things to emerge over the last few years is Christmas tree rentals. Pop a deposit down and choose a tree. You can even have the same tree every year (might need high ceilings for that one). Heads up, due to the deposit, this can end up working out a bit more expensive than buying a tree so make sure you’re aware of all the costs before committing.

2) Switch your candles

Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or anything else, candles will most likely show up this holiday season. Did you know soy-based candles exist and are more eco-friendly? Normal candles are often made of paraffin wax which is derived from finite fossil fuels or beeswax. Soy candles also burn longer, release less toxins, have a stronger fragrance and are mostly vegan (double check though). These can be found at your local health food shop or online and start at £3.99 (according to our quick search at least).

3) Gift an experience

Wind surfing? In Sussex? YES! There’s certainly enough wind for it – a voucher for a lesson could be a lovely Christmas gift. Tip number three is to buy experiences not gifts. This can really help you reduce clutter and support local businesses, which is a bonus.

4) Lights up

One of the best things about the festive season is definitely the beautiful lights hanging everywhere. Switching to LED lights, can be… illuminating. LED lights last longer than incandescent lights and use less energy, which saves money and, in turn, make you happier.

5) Wrap it up

Traditional wrapping paper is often not recyclable. If possible, how about switching to newspaper, parcel paper, cloth wraps, brown craft paper or 100% paper gift wrap? There’s a wide variety of options that consider durability, material, style and price. You can be really creative or keep it simple. Prices start at £1 at your local Post Office or charity shop, or free in your own home.

Wild Coast Sussex is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund