Archived press release

Happy Christmas from Friends of the Earth

11 December 2003

This Christmas, Friends of the Earth is urging people who are fed up of giving socks or naff nik-naks to try to make the festive season about having a good time rather than struggling to find the perfect present - with 10 top tips for presents that don't cost the earth.

• Treat people to a special experience instead of an item - such as theatre tokens or a spa weekend

• Take friends or family out for a slap-up meal with scrummy organic wine

• Make food to give such as chutney, cakes, or chocolate truffles.

• Treat people to natural essential oils instead of toiletries and perfumes and avoid being contaminated with artificial musks.

• Take the family on a trip to a museum, exhibition or show

• Indulge with a local, organic hamper made up from the local farmers market or give gifts of locally-brewed beer or organic wine

• Plant a tree for a gift that grows. Native tree species can be found online at the Woodland Trust's partnership site at www.native-tree-shop.com/ Or if you don't have anywhere to plant a tree, you can dedicate a tree

• Offer your own skills or services as a present eg. babysitting, house decorating or massage!

• Look for good quality books in second hand bookshops.

• Buy a subscription that will support a charity and give free entry all year to special places e.g. English Heritage, National Trust, RSPB or RHS gardens. A year's gift subscription to Friends of the Earth (24) this Christmas includes a free copy of the Good Shopping Guide or Real Food Book as well as a subscription to Friends of the Earth's quarterly magazine

Christmas can sometimes seem to be all about consuming and throwing away. Each year we send around 1 billion greetings cards at Christmas time, use 83 sq km of wrapping paper, and get through an extra 750 million bottles and glass containers, an extra 500 million drinks cans and half a million Christmas trees. And then there are the presents that we do not really want or need. Friends of the Earth is urging people to follow the top ten tips, to buy recycled paper and cards and avoid so many resources going to waste.

Friends of the Earth's resources campaigner Claire Wilton said:

"Christmas can be a great time to enjoy ourselves by taking advantage of the real pleasures in life without the planet paying the price. Celebrate this year by appreciating our natural resources and don't let them all be sent to waste."

More top tips on making your Christmas green.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust