This is pretty appalling.
We used to dream of a white Christmas, but now a green Christmas dominates our thoughts as three quarters (75 per cent) of shoppers are planning to be more eco-conscious over the festive period.
That’s according to new research1 by leading environmental organisation, Repak.
The November 2021 survey of 1,397 people in Ireland, examines how we will spend this Christmas and our attitudes towards recycling and shopping over the festive season.
The research reveals that although 20 per cent of people are kicking off the festive celebrations early this year, 81% plan to stay at home this Christmas with family and at least one in ten (13 per cent) have made a conscious decision not to socialise with friends in advance of Christmas Day.
Gift giving remains popular, as 25 per cent will buy between 10-15 gifts this Christmas and 49 per cent will spend €300 or less, a 16 per cent increase compared to 2020.
In Ireland, we are expected to generate 95,000 tonnes of packaging waste this Christmas, so not only is Christmas the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the time when recycling bins are at their fullest.
To ensure Ireland reaches its future recycling targets under the EU’s Circular Economy Package, it’s important that all consumers understand how to manage their packaging waste over the holiday period.
To mitigate the amount of waste going to landfill this year, reusing items that we already have at home like boxes, bags, fabrics and newpaper as wrapping is highly encouraged.
Repak is also asking that this year everyone commits a little more to learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Since September, all plastics can go into the recycling bin, so common items such as bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, bread wrappers, and chocolate and biscuit trays can all be placed in the recycling bin this Christmas.
