Advent Calendars

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The Hoye family have been trying to cut down on single-use plastic for about two years

The Countdown to Christmas has begun but as consumers grow more conscious about plastic pollution, we ask if it's possible to have just as much festive fun without the bin liners full of waste.

The Hoye family, Lydia 42, Dan, 40, Emanuel, 10, and Inés, four, have been trying to Cut Out as much plastic as possible from their daily lives for The Past two years after seeing shocking scenes in the Blue Planet documentary series.

Dan says this has made The Family , from Bingham in Nottinghamshire, look At Christmas differently. "It is a really lovely celebration but if all we do is go to the supermarket and clear the shelves and get it over with, then you lose a lot of that ritual. "

Here are the Hoye family's tips on How To ditch the plastic this yuletide while keeping the festive spirit alive.

Advent calendar Selecting treats to put in homemade Advent Calendars makes them more special, Lydia says

Instead of the disposable chocolate Advent Calendars that have become commonplace in many households, the Hoyes use a fabric calendar with numbered pockets that can be filled with chocolates or small gifts.

Lydia says: "Sometimes we put little notes in as well, which makes it more special. If you think about children having a chocolate Advent calendar they just want the chocolate really, so it's no different. "

Dan adds: "People might say it's time-consuming but we think it's important not to go for The Most obvious stuff, which is invariably plastic. "

Decorations Christmas trees can be decorated with dried fruits

The Family like to make decorations out of plants and foliage, which they bring in from The Garden just before Christmas.

They keep it simple with a wreath for the door and a table centrepiece made out of ferns and other evergreens. There is a real Christmas tree in the lounge each year, which is decorated with ornaments including dried chillies, oranges and cinnamon sticks.

"Last year Dan brought in a Silver Birch branch and dried some orange pieces and hung them all on there and we had it in The House until February as it looked so beautiful," Lydia says.

"It's about bringing in nature from outside, which is what people used to do and it's why we have Christmas trees in the First Place and we've sort of lost Touch with that, really," adds Dan. "Not everyone's got a garden, I respect that, but sometimes you can buy stuff from a greengrocers or there's lots of ways you can get hold of it. "

Dan, who works as an outdoor educator, says he also likes to make wooden Christmas decorations by whittling branches and painting them to look like little Santas.

Toys and gifts The Family get wooden toys as gifts for younger children

Dan says they have started to give experiences for their elder child Emanuel, such a junior driving day, rather than material things.

"You could have a plastic gift that you don't really use or you could have a memory and keep that forever," Emanuel says.

For the couple's Daughter , Inés, they steer clear of The Jungle of plastic toys aimed at children each Christmas and go for "well-made wooden toys that last".

Dan's top tip for plastic-free gifts for babies This Christmas is a homemade treasure basket.

"Get a wicker basket and fill it with items that help a baby's sensory development like pegs, fabric, cotton reels, things that would be safe for them to put in their mouth but have different textures. It's a lovely idea because it doesn't cost a lot of money but children get a lot of use out of it. "

For adults, The Family like to give gifts like books or things that help people reduce their single-use plastic, such as reusable water bottles or coffee cups.

Are you changing your habits This Christmas for environmental reasons?

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bingham, christmas, plastic pollution, plastic

Source of news: bbc.com