Zero Waste Christmas Ideas for Businesses

The amount of waste we create in the UK increases by around 30% over the Christmas period. Much of this is due to homes and consumers buying lots more food, gifts, and packaging that gets thrown away. Businesses also produce significantly more waste when celebrating the festive season.

Christmas parties, workplace decorations, client and staff gifts, and festive lunches all make waste that doesn’t occur at other times of year. Reducing the amount of rubbish your business generates is better for the environment, cheaper to manage, and avoids issues when dealing with commercial waste at Christmas.

Aiming for zero waste helps companies work towards corporate social responsibility goals and take a proactive approach to going greener. Discover ways your company can celebrate sustainably and minimise how much rubbish it generates with these zero waste Christmas ideas.

Putting up Christmas decorations is a big part of getting into the festive spirit whether you run a shop, restaurant, office, pub, hotel, or any other business. The easiest way to eliminate waste is to use the same decorations from last year. Hopefully, you’ve stored them safely and can bring out the boxes to decorate your workplace.

An artificial Christmas tree is a zero waste solution if you store it and reuse it for many years or donate it to charity once you have no need for it. Having a real Christmas tree can be sustainable when you dispose of an old Christmas tree responsibly (such as replanting or composting rather than sending it to landfill).

When you need some new decorations search for eco-friendly options and those made from recycled materials. This is vital if you buy tinsel as traditional types are tricky to recycle, so look for plastic-free and recycled alternatives. You could even host a decoration workshop as a fun seasonal activity to get staff to make their own from paper, card, and other recyclable materials.

Christmas lunches, activities, and other seasonal celebrations across your business can also create waste. There are many things you can do to reduce food waste at Christmas as lots of us like to overindulge, which includes at work. These are a few ways to host a waste free Christmas lunch in your business:

• Encourage everyone to bring a homemade dish. This adds to the fun and variety while also reducing packaging waste.
• Avoid single-use party plates and tablecloths. Use cutlery, glasses, and plates from your company kitchen that can be washed or hire items if required.
• Buy food items with minimal or recyclable packaging. Head to farm shops, markets, or bulk buy to minimise waste packaging.
• Plan carefully with an accurate list of attendees, dietary requirements, and items required to avoid overbuying and creating lots of food waste.
• Donate any leftover packaged food to local food banks or charities. Open foodstuffs should be kept and eaten where possible.

Want more ideas on how to reduce waste during your commercial Christmas celebrations? We’ve produced a range of expert guides full of tips for your business to enjoy the festive season sustainably.