Countdown to Christmas with an eco-friendly advent calendar.
updated: 09.10.19
It’s almost December 1st – which means it’s nearly time for the morning ritual of advent calendar opening to begin.
Most standard shop-bought advent calendars will be thrown away come Christmas Day, generating lots of unnecessary and environmentally-damaging waste from sweet wrappings and plastic moulds. For a more sustainable (and, arguably, more fun) option, try crafting your own homemade advent calendar, or choose a refillable option that you can re-use year after year.
If you haven’t got time for crafting, here are some of our favourite plastic-free advent calendars:
Berylune Woodland Animal Scene Advent Calendar, £35.50
Hidden in a miniature festive themed suitcase, this advent calendar builds to create a woodland animal scene made entirely out of wood. The finished piece can then be brought out year on year as a Christmas decoration tradition.
Available at berylune.co.uk
The Night Before Christmas Pop & Slot Advent Calendar, £13.95
This pop-out cardboard advent calendar from Roger la Borde resembles a traditional dolls house and is themed around the poem The Night Before Christmas. Each day in the lead up to Christmas, a little more of the house is popped out and constructed.
Available at trouva.com
Christmas Advent Calendar Tree Hanging Sacks, £24
Pushka Home’s refillable hessian sack advent calendar provides the perfect opportunity to get creative with both how you fill and display your advent calendar. Fill each sack with jokes, sweets and treats, gifts and inspiring messages and hang around the house to make each morning on the run up to Christmas feel festive.
Available at notonthehighstreet.com
Christmas Canvas Advent Calendar, £52
This do-it-yourself style advent calendar by Design Letters allows for complete personalisation of what is behind each day of the calendar. Though more of an investment, this canvas calendar is reusable year on year, encouraging your own traditions and tailoring of treats.
Available at trouva.com
Personalised Wooden Activity Advent Calendar, £42
Wake up to a festive activity each day with this made to order advent calendar by Create Gift Love – made from FSC certified wood in their New Forest workshop. Each of the 24 baubles has a fun festive activity on the reverse, such as going for a walk to see the Christmas lights and making paper snowflakes, and the baubles can be strung along a wall or hung on the Christmas tree.
Available at notonthehighstreet.com
Sophie Conran for Biscuiteers Hand-crafted advent calendar, £125
This gorgeous, limited edition hand-embroidered Scandi style advent calendar is designed by Sophie Conran for Biscuiteers and can be hung on your wall year after year. Fill with Biscuiteers advent biscuits or why not try baking your own.
Available at biscuiteers.com
Tree Colouring Advent Calendar, £24.95
Children (and grown-ups) will love colouring in a section of this Christmas tree advent calendar by James Ellis every day in the lead up to the big day.
Available from trouva.com
Children’s Charity Advent Calendar, £16.95
Though not refillable or reusable, this traditional paper advent calendar from Advent of Cahnge captures the essence of Christmas whilst teaching children about the importance of kindness. Behind every door is a 50p charitable donation and gives you a little bit of information about how your contribution could be used.
Available from adventofchange.com