Have yourself a Sustainable little Christmas… with FSG

Check out our Sustainable Christmas Guide 🌲 from FSG  with tips to get you through the festivities!

The days are getting shorter, and we are near the mid way mark of December. That means that the festive season is nearly upon us and as the weather turns frostier, we all can’t help but think about the list of things we need to complete before D-Day; presents for loved ones, Christmas dinner shopping plus all the other bits that end up in the trolley - “just in case”!

In the background of course, the energy crisis still looms large in our minds,  along with the cost of living so as we always say here at FSG - being resource efficient goes hand in hand with cost savings!

So there’s no harm giving it a go this Christmas💚 

You can reduce waste and costs this silly season, while not sacrificing on the fun and merriment - check out some of the tips you’ll find in the guide!

🌲 Shop Local for gifts!

🌲 Enjoy a zero food waste festive season!

🌲 Get creative! DIY décor is best!

🌲 Save on energy!

Shop Local

The importance of supporting local businesses cannot be underestimated.

These business owners and crafts people are your friends and neighbours. Spending your money with them boosts your local economy and it helps reduce the carbon footprint of your purchase by lowering air miles.

Although convenience suits us all at the best of times, it's important to change our habits, even if only slowly at first, to see the importance of local produce on our health, our communities and our environment overall.

Keeping small businesses alive has a positive knock on effect that can be felt in many areas.

“Guaranteed Irish is reminding people that every €20 spent in your local community is worth €100 to the Irish economy.” (https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/1201/1339460-consumers-urged-to-buy-local-in-the-run-up-to-christmas/) 

So when you can’t gift an experience and have to go down the material route - remember to #lovelocal 💚

Zero Food Waste Christmas

We often say at the Fifty Shades Greener office, that we could dedicate all content and discussion to one thing… #FoodWaste 

Add to this the cost of living crisis - it should be a top priority this year to ensure that you don’t waste food and money unnecessarily.

In an article published last week in the Guardian it was noted that;

“The cost of the items that make up a traditional Christmas dinner has risen three times faster than wages this year, according to research from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).” https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/05/cost-of-traditional-christmas-dinner-food-rises-three-times-faster-than-wages 

In Ireland alone we are wasting over 800,000 tonnes of food a year according to the EPA. 

“Globally, more than 25% of food produced is wasted. Food waste is also a significant contributor to climate change. It is estimated that food waste generates about 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing food waste is therefore an effective climate action.”

https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/circular-economy/food-waste/ 

The time has come for the individual to realise that one household is part of MANY households in your community, county, country, continent...who are ALL buying huge volumes of food that then go - uneaten...

So for the season that's in it, we have a few tips for you within our FSG guide. Remember though - ALWAYS shop local with a supplier or grower where you can.

Not only will you be eating the best of the best when it comes to vegetables, poultry, dairy or meat, you'll also develop a relationship with them and support their much needed trade.

For all our tips - Download our festive guide now!

Do you want to learn more about how you can work to reduce your own environmental impact through greener choices? Check out our  'Green Skills for Life' programme 

Or email us on [email protected]

Wishing you all a healthy and happy Christmas!

From the FSG Team 💚

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