Britons sending fewer Christmas cards

Britons will send 141 million fewer Christmas cards this year than five years ago in an effort to save money and the environment, according to a survey.

More than a third of people (36 per cent) have cut their Christmas card list, suggesting 882 million cards will be sent this year compared with 1.02 billion in 2005, the poll for Oxfam found.

It revealed 91 per cent of those aged 55 and over plan to send cards this year compared with 72 per cent of 18-24-year-olds.

Saving money and environmental concerns were both cited as reasons for cutting back on cards by 22 per cent of respondents, with postage cost increases mentioned by 21 per cent.

Almost one in five people (18 per cent) think cards are no longer an important part of Christmas, with 13 per cent of those respondents planning to send online and e-mail greetings instead, the poll found.

Just 12 per cent of Britons will send more cards this year than five years ago, while 43 per cent will send about the same number.

Oxfam said its own card sales were down by 14 per cent so far this year.

The charity's director of trading, David McCullough, said: "Given their social importance, Christmas cards are clearly a tradition it's important to keep alive.

"This is even more the case when you realise that the £1 million of Christmas card sales Oxfam receives every year is enough to feed more than 140,000 families. Sending a card this year could help you not only to stay in touch with your loved ones, but could make a difference to the lives of poor people around the world at the same time."

YouGov surveyed 2,328 adults online between October 29 and November 1.