< Plastic Free Christmas Decorations: A Practical UK Guide

Plastic Free Christmas Decorations: A Practical UK Guide

Josh Kennard
Plastic Free Christmas Decorations: A Practical UK Guide

The simplest way to have plastic free Christmas decorations is to buy fewer, longer-lasting pieces made from natural materials such as wood, paper, wool and cotton, and to keep using what you already own. Skip glitter, foil and anything “biodegradable” that nobody can explain. This guide shows what to avoid, what to choose, what to make at home and how to spot the claims that sound greener than they are.

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TL;DR

  • Reuse first: the greenest decoration is one you already own, so keep your existing plastic baubles and use them for years.
  • Choose solid natural materials (wood, paper, wool, cotton, dried fruit) over glitter, foil and “bioplastic”.
  • Check wrapping and cards too: if paper springs back after scrunching, it probably contains plastic.
  • Buy a few well-made pieces you will use for decades rather than a new themed set each year.
  • For children, look for natural materials, smooth finishes and tested products, not just a green label.

Table of Contents

Why plastic is the problem at Christmas

The festive season is wasteful. The Open University’s OpenLearn notes that UK households produce around 30% more waste at Christmas, with single-use plastic decorations, wrapping and unwanted gifts all contributing. The UK government also points out that around 12 million tonnes of plastic enters the environment each year, and asks households to cut avoidable plastic from cards, decorations and gifts.

Decorations are a particular trouble spot because they are bought to be used for a few weeks. Cheap tinsel, glitter-shed baubles and moulded figures are often discarded after one or two seasons, and many cannot be recycled at all.

There is a health angle as well. Natural Baby Mama’s guide to non-toxic decorations says lead, flame retardants and PVC turn up in some mass-market lights, artificial trees and ornaments. That is one US-based parenting source rather than a UK regulator, so treat it as a prompt to check what you buy, not as a verdict on any particular product.

Start with what you already own

Here is the part that surprises people. Going plastic free does not mean throwing out your old plastic baubles. WRAP, the UK’s waste charity, says the most effective way to cut the footprint of Christmas is to extend the life of what you have and re-use it year after year. A plastic bauble used for 30 Christmases beats a “sustainable” one bought on impulse and binned in year two.

So the sensible plan looks like this:

  1. Keep and use everything you own that still works.
  2. When something breaks or you want something new, replace it with a durable natural alternative.
  3. Pass on unwanted decorations to a charity shop or a neighbour rather than the bin.
  4. Buy new only when you will genuinely keep it for years.

Materials to avoid, and why

Glitter and foil

Glitter is the biggest offender. Government guidance says glitter on cards and wrapping paper is almost impossible to remove in recycling, so those items belong in general waste. The same applies to foil-coated paper, and to decorations that shed sparkle every time you move them.

“Bioplastic” and “biodegradable” plastic

The OpenLearn article is clear that not all bioplastics are biodegradable. Some behave exactly like fossil-based plastic, and others only break down in industrial composting. If a label does not tell you how and where something degrades, assume it will not do so in your garden compost bin. Natural, renewable and long-lasting materials such as wood are the safer choice.

Plastic hidden in paper

Wrapping paper and cards are part of the same decorating job. WRAP describes a simple test: scrunch the paper, and if it springs back it likely contains plastic or foil. If it holds its shape, it can usually be recycled. The government reminds us that about a billion Christmas cards are thrown away in the UK every year, and suggests choosing recycled, FSC-certified card that can itself be recycled.

Plastic free materials that work

Material Looks like Lasts End of life
Solid wood Warm, natural grain, knots Decades Can be reused, passed on or returned to nature
Paper and card Stars, chains, tags A few seasons if stored flat Recycle if uncoated
Wool and felt Soft, traditional Many years Compostable if natural fibre
Cotton and linen ribbon Bows, garlands Many years Reuse, then compost if undyed
Dried orange slices, cinnamon Scented, rustic One season Compost
Pine cones, foraged twigs Free, seasonal One to a few seasons Compost or return to woodland

No single material wins on every measure. Food-based and foraged decorations are cheap and compostable but do not last. Wood sits at the other end: a higher price, but it can be used for decades, so the cost and the resources are spread over many Christmases.

Make your own: five ideas that work in a UK home

The National Trust suggests making decorations from used wrapping paper or pine cones from your local woodland. The Welsh Government’s climate action pages similarly recommend reusable fabric decorations or ones made from natural materials. Some ideas that suit a first attempt:

  • Dried orange garland. Slice oranges thinly, dry them slowly in a low oven, and thread them on string with cinnamon sticks.
  • Paper chains from reused wrap. Only use plain paper that passes the scrunch test, so the chain can be recycled later.
  • Foraged wreath. Use ivy, holly and pine from your own garden, or with permission from a hedgerow. Skip any wire or plastic floristry foam.
  • Fabric stars. Offcuts of wool or cotton, stitched and lightly stuffed with wool, last for years.
  • Wooden slices and branches. A few fallen twigs tied with twine make a minimalist tree for a windowsill.

If you enjoy making things from wood, our own boho wooden ornament ideas include a short DIY option too.

For a wider view on why local craft matters, a florist’s reflection on celebrating local makers and cherishing the craft makes the same point about arrangements: pieces made by a person with a story last longer in your memory, and usually in your home.

Our perspective: why we make our trees from wood

We started The Arboretum because we were tired of decorations that looked identical in every house and fell apart or were thrown out by January. Each of our trees is handcrafted from hardwoods such as maple, walnut and oak, and we leave natural knots and textures visible. Two trees are never exactly the same, and that is deliberate.

Our perspective: why we make our trees from wood — overview diagram

Our view is simple. Plastic free is not only about what a decoration is made of. It is also about how long you keep it. A wooden tree that you take out every December for twenty years is a better answer than a “disposable but compostable” one you replace every year. That is why we think of our pieces as small works of art that carry a story, not as seasonal consumables.

We also try to keep the whole chain thoughtful: sustainably sourced wood and eco-friendly packaging. If you want to check how sustainability claims about wood are verified, our guide to verifying FSC chain of custody explains the questions to ask any seller, us included.

— Josh

Choosing wooden decorations well

Wood is a good plastic free choice, but not every wooden decoration is equal. Here is what we would check before buying.

Is the wood solid, and does the maker say which species?

A good seller names the wood. Maple, walnut and oak are dense hardwoods that hold detail and last. Be wary of listings that just say “wooden” with no information, since some are thin composite board held together with glue and printed with a finish.

Where did it come from?

Look for clear sourcing information. FSC certification is the commonly used proof for responsible forestry, and a seller who claims it should be able to give a certificate number or chain-of-custody details.

What is the finish?

Paints, varnishes and sealants can bring plastic back in through the side door. Ask what the finish is, especially if the piece will be handled by a child. Natural Baby Mama recommends natural, non-toxic materials such as wood, wool and unbleached paper, and certifications like Oeko-Tex or GOTS where textiles are involved.

Is it safe around children?

If you have small children, look for rounded or dull points, sturdy construction and food-safe finishes, and keep fragile pieces on higher branches. We cover this in detail in our guide to child friendly Christmas tree safety for wooden ornaments, and our display ideas for pieces kids can reach help you plan where things go.

How will you clean and store it?

Wood does not need much care, but it should be kept dry. Before using any cleaner, test it on a hidden spot first, as we explain in our guide to cleaning wooden ornaments. Wrap each piece in paper, not plastic bags, and store it somewhere dry between seasons.

Decorating a whole home without plastic

The tree

The government’s Defra blog suggests that if you choose a real tree, a tree with its roots attached can be kept in a pot outside and reused in future years. If you prefer something that returns every year with no care, a tabletop wooden tree is a lovely alternative, and our guide to styling a wooden tabletop Christmas tree shows how to arrange a group of pieces.

Shelves, mantels and windowsills

This is where wood shines. A row of small trees of different heights, a few pine cones and a candle in a heatproof holder looks calm and Scandinavian without a scrap of plastic. If you plan to use candles, read our notes on candle-safe Scandi decor first.

Tall Knotty Festive

Gift wrapping

Wrap gifts in plain paper, fabric or reusable cloth, and tie them with string or ribbon. A small wooden piece can double as the gift tag. Our guide to wooden gift ornaments covers safety, proof of sourcing and packing.

Lights

Lights are the hardest part to make fully plastic free. The Welsh Government pages suggest switching to LED or solar-powered lights to cut energy use. Candles in jars are an option, but keep them well away from branches and children.

A realistic budget

Plastic free does not have to mean expensive if you mix approaches. A sensible split looks like this:

  • Free: foraged greenery, pine cones, reused paper chains, dried orange slices.
  • Low cost: twine, cotton ribbon, plain brown paper.
  • Longer-term pieces: a small number of handmade wooden decorations you plan to keep for life.

The longer-term pieces cost more at the start, but the cost per Christmas falls every year you use them. That is also what WRAP’s advice about high-quality items that don’t need frequent replacing amounts to in practice.

Handmade wooden trees from The Arboretum

If you want a plastic free centrepiece, our handmade wooden trees are made for exactly this. They come as single pieces, sets and custom designs, in sustainably sourced hardwoods, with natural knots and grain showing.

The child friendly versions have dull points and food-safe finishes, which suits households with little ones. Our pieces ship in eco-friendly packaging. You can see the whole range on our shop.

Tall Knotty Festive

Checklist before you buy any decoration

  1. Do I already own something that does the same job?
  2. Is it made of a material I can name (solid wood, paper, wool), not just “eco”?
  3. Does it contain glitter, foil or a plastic coating?
  4. Will I still want it in ten years?
  5. Can it be repaired, passed on or composted at the end?
  6. Is the packaging plastic free as well?

If you can answer yes to the first four, you are doing better than most.

FAQ

Should I throw away my plastic decorations?

No. The most sustainable decoration is usually the one you already own, because making a replacement has its own footprint. WRAP’s advice is to reuse items year after year. Replace plastic pieces only when they break, and choose natural alternatives at that point.

Is biodegradable plastic a good plastic free option?

Not necessarily. Researchers at the Open University stress that not all bioplastics are biodegradable. A solid natural material such as wood, which you reuse for years, is the more reliable choice.

How do I know if wrapping paper has plastic in it?

Use the scrunch test. Crumple a piece in your hand: if it springs back, it likely has plastic or foil and should not go in recycling. Glitter makes paper unrecyclable too, so choose plain paper.

Are wooden Christmas decorations safe for children?

Solid wood with a smooth, non-toxic finish is generally a sensible choice, but check the details. Look for rounded points, no tiny detachable parts and a stated finish. Our child friendly pieces have dull points and food-safe finishes, and you should still supervise very young children around any small decoration.

Sources

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