Twelve days of a sustainable Christmas
Energy Awareness Officer, Robert Graham shares his tips for a sustainable Christmas before we finish up for the holidays...
On the first green day of Christmas, the local farmer gave to me: A real tree from a local farm. If you've opted for a sustainably sourced Christmas tree you're already off to a good sustainability start!
On the second green day of Christmas, the lighting shop gave to me: Two LED light strings. Switching to energy-efficient LED lights and putting them on a timer is a great way to save electricity.
On the third green day of Christmas, my planet gave to me: Three generous donations. Spread cheer this festive season by donating any unused toys and gifts to those in need. Thanks to everyone who did just this after donating to the council's own wishing tree last week.
On the fourth green day of Christmas, my supermarket gave to me: Four reusable bags. Use reusable shopping bags for all your last-minute festive shopping trips so that you can avoid single-use plastic.
On the fifth green day of Christmas, my festive dinner gave to me: Festive plant-based meals. Add some plant-based dishes to your holiday menu to lower your carbon footprint.
On the sixth green day of Christmas, my friends gave to me: Six homemade gifts. DIY gifts like baked goods, crafts or upcycled items reduce waste and add a personal touch.
On the seventh green day of Christmas, my family gave to me: Seven smartly wrapped gifts. Wrapping gifts in fabric or reused paper like old maps are great ways to wrap more sustainably. If gifting this year using giftbags, keep the tag blank so that they can be used again. Using twine instead of sticky tape allows the paper to be reused again too.
On the eighth green day of Christmas, my local area gave to me: Eight car-free journeys. Walking, cycling or car-sharing on festive journeys is much better for the plant and can cut down on emissions.
On the ninth green day of Christmas, my festive décor gave to me: Nine LED candles glowing. Using LED candles instead of real ones offers safety and energy savings.
On the tenth green day of Christmas, my local community gave to me: Ten locally produced presents. Support local farmers and reduce food miles by buying seasonal produce. Supporting local small businesses is also a great way to shop local and support North Ayrshire's economy.
On the eleventh green day of Christmas, my planet gave to me: Eleven recycled decorations. Make ornaments from old cards, jars or natural materials like pinecones.
On the twelfth green day of Christmas, my nearest and dearest gave to me: Twelve Hours of digital e-cards or video greetings. Going digital can save on trees compared to sending paper cards.
Published December 18, 2025
