The issue of Carbon emissions and the food crisis has become an important point of discussion across the globe. In this background, the Christmas celebration has emerged as a big source of pollution every year, from generating tonnes of waste cards to miles and miles of waste packaging material to cutting down millions of trees to huge food wastage.
Millions of Christians across the globe celebrate Christmas and send gifts to their family and friends, involving cards, gift wrapping, electronics, and plastics, leading to predominantly overflowing landfills across Europe, the United States (US), Australia and other countries. In addition, the wastage of food, the use and throwing of real and plastic Christmas trees make it one of the most environmentally harmful festivals.
Notably, it takes one tree to make 3,000 Christmas cards. And as per estimate, across the globe, more than 33 million trees are cut down for card only. Also, as per various reports, over 120 million trees are cut each Christmas, which results in a carbon footprint of between 2-3 billion kilogrammes. Here, the UK consumes about 8 million trees annually, while in the US, between 35 and 40 million trees are sold during the Christmas season.
For instance, as per reports, only in the United Kingdom (UK) one billion Christmas cards are sold annually. As per ‘The Royal Mail’, it delivers 150 million cards during Christmas in the UK. In the United States, as per Hallmark and Greeting Card Association, approximately 1.3 billion cards are sent by Americans each year. Notably, it takes one tree to make 3,000 Christmas cards. And as per estimate, across the globe, more than 33 million trees are cut down for card only. Also, as per various reports, over 120 million trees are cut each Christmas, which results in a carbon footprint of between 2-3 billion kilogrammes. Here, the UK consumes about 8 million trees annually, while in the US, between 35 and 40 million trees are sold during the Christmas season.
During Christmas every year, 2,28,000 miles of wrapping paper are thrown away. In 2018, it was estimated that the British threw away the equivalent of 108 million rolls of wrapping paper after Christmas was over. In the US, an additional five million tons of waste is generated over Christmas, four million of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags.
Importantly, the plastic waste generated by the UK at Christmas equals the weight of 76,000 Giraffes, and it costs £26 million to dispose of all of the UK’s Christmas waste. In the UK, during Christmas, 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings, and 74 million mince pies get disposed while still edible, causing almost 2,70,000 tons of food waste in total. In Australia alone, over 5 million tonnes of food ends up in landfill each year. In the UK, the amount of waste produced at Christmas is 30 per cent higher compared to the rest of the year. Also, Americans throw away 25 per cent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year, which generates 25 million tons of garbage!
