Christian symbolic item made up of an orange, red tape and

Aoife McMahon gives us some tips on how to be sustainable this Christmas T he most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, but before you get lost in all of the magic, think about what you can do to have a more sustainable Christmas. The first thing you can do to create less waste this Christmas is to simply buy less stuff. There are many ways you can do this. One easy way to do this is by giving the gift of services instead of goods. Vouchers for a massage, cooking and makeup lessons or concert tickets are good examples of this. You could also agree with your friends or family that you won’t buy each other presents but will instead have a nice meal out together or spend a whole day together doing fun things. This way you will most likely spend less money, help the environment while also spend quality time with friends or family, which is what Christmas is all about anyway.

Having a real tree is better for the environment than having an artificial tree. Real trees that are bought in pots are still alive and can be kept in your garden as plants. If you don’t want to keep your tree as a plant, it’s recommended that you still buy a real tree and compost it afterwards. If you look up your local council, they will have lists of drop off locations where you can leave your tree and they will compost them for you.

One of the big ways you can help the environment this Christmas is by choosing your wrapping paper carefully. Not all wrapping paper is recyclable, as foil or paper decorated in glitter cannot be recycled. Simple paper wrap can be recycled if you remove all ribbons, sticky tape and name tags as these are not suitable for recycling.

Another material you could use to wrap your presents is old newspapers. In fact, if you are a DCU student there are tonnes of old copies of the College View in the Henry Grattan, that you are welcome to take to wrap your presents. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also makes your gifts stand out.

Aim to have zero waste decorations, get creative and make your own tree decorations this year. Plastic baubles can be replaced by pinecones with ribbons. Nothing says Christmas more than holly or mistletoe and your table centrepiece can be made out of plants and berries. Not only is this way better for the environment than plastic centrepieces, but your guests will also be impressed with the amount of effort you’ve put in.

Another helpful tip is to remember is that Christmas is just one day, you don’t need to buy new clothes every year. Most of us spend Christmas with family members, who will definitely forgive you if you repeat last years outfit or throw something together from the clothes you already own.

Eating less meat is another way to be more sustainable this Christmas. Now you don’t have to give up your Christmas dinner, but a nice way to cut down on meat is to have a meat-free Christmas eve or only cook enough meat for Christmas day and have a nut roast on St. Stephen’s Day.

Any small things you can change to have a more sustainable Christmas is worth it. Not all wrapping paper is recyclable, as foil or paper decorated in glitter cannot be recycled “

As Christmas is only around the corner, many people will participate in that last-minute scramble for presents. However, it is not just presents for family and friends we have to worry about, but also what we’re going to wear. Many people will buy special outfits for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day, but is there too much pressure to find the perfect outfit to be photographed in beside the Christmas tree?

Students are under financial pressure already without the added stress of buying Christmas clothes. As the shops and online stores are filled with the best winter looks, and social media influencers model this season’s trends, many people feel pressured to dress to impress.

DCU student and professional stylist Alice Flynn said that for students, purchasing new outfits for every festive occasion isn’t sustainable.

“Raid your existing wardrobe for versatile pieces which you can dress up or down, and mix and match with different styles. If you’re struggling to put certain pieces together, borrow your friend’s funky printed skirt, your mam’s button-up shirt, or even your dad’s vintage leather jacket.

“This method of styling is my favourite, as your looks will be totally unique and stand out,” she said.

Many people enjoy planning their festive outfits in advance scouring the shops and social media weeks or even months in advance.

St Angela’s College home-economics and religion student Aisling Dolan said she loves

12| the college view The Hype dressing up at Christmas. She knows exactly what she’s going to wear – a grey knit turtleneck jumper with a burgundy corduroy mini skirt, paired with black tights and black boots.

“Any excuse to buy a new outfit and I’m on it. I know it’s not sustainable but I’ll wear it again during the rest of the year,” she said.

“I buy a totally new outfit for Christmas Day, like new everything. You have to be looking your best on the special day.”

Flynn said that although in previous years, she’d search the high-street for unique, one-off outfits, this year she’s focused on being environmentally friendly.

“I’ll be reusing and re-wearing my existing clothes and not supporting the ever-growing fast fashion agenda,” she said.

Trinity College midwifery student Bridie Abu said she prefers to be cosy on Christmas day, and that she dressed up more when she was a teenager. “More than likely what it will be is matching pyjamas with my family all day,” she said.

Dolan said there’s a lot of pressure on people to

look good over the holidays.

“Everyone posts their outfits on Instagram beside the Christmas tree. It’s even gotten to a stage where people are asking about your Christmas outfits weeks before Christmas.

“People judge your Christmas photos based on your outfits and whether they’re branded or not. Christmas is a day of celebration, it is one of the most special days of the year so why should an outfit determine so much?”

TUD bioanalysis student Megan Dunne said she doesn’t feel pressured because she’s not very active on social media.

“For the people who post nearly their whole lives on Instagram, I’d definitely say there’s pressure for them.”

Christmas is often a busy time, full of quality time with family and friends. Whether you stay at home watching movies and eating Celebrations or hit the town, being comfortable in what you’re wearing is what matters the most.