Ours to Protect is a unique and exciting audio project – a collaboration of local and regional broadcasters from across the country who have come together to tackle climate change, champion climate action, and inform and educate audiences all over Ireland about how they can make a difference.
Today on ‘Ours To Protect’ John Morley talks to Dr Sheila Malone, lecturer from the University of Galway’s JE Carnes School of Business and Economics about having a sustainable Christmas.
Did you know…?
- Irish consumers spend about €5 billion at Christmas time on extra packaging such as gift wrapping paper
- A Repak study from 2022 shows that 72% of people would like to be more conscious of how much extra waste they generate around Christmas time.
- 46% of people also said they don’t intend to reuse packaging or use leftover packaging for gifts.
- On average, a 6.5 ft Christmas tree made out of plastic generates 40 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
Why is having a sustainable Christmas so important?
- Trees that are FSE certified consume more Co2 in the home, which leads to clearer air in the house at Christmas time.
- Supporting local businesses, especially those that produce organic foods.
- It reduces food waste, our carbon footprint, and landfill output.
- It encourages more thoughtful gift gifting in trying to gift long lasting sustainable gifts e.g gifting wooden toys to kids instead of plastic ones.
What can I do to have a sustainable Christmas?
- Use gift bags for gifts instead of using wrapping paper for presents
- Buy a real Christmas tree instead of one made from plastic, one with a FSE certification.
- Shop locally for your Christmas foods, such as farmers markets, or fruit and veg stalls and stick tightly to your shopping list.
- Use the same decorations every year and go for long lasting decorations made out of wood or glass instead of plastic or tinsel, or DIY your decorations.
- Consider digital gifts or a charity donation instead of material gifts.
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more!
For more info go over to galwaybayfm.ie, click on Our to Protect image on home page. You could try out the ‘Ecological Footprint’ calculator and you can take a quick survey.
‘Ours To Protect’ brought to you by Galway Bay fm, the IBI and funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee – check out ‘ours to protect.ie for more info.
