The following dos and don'ts for a greener Christmas are presented courtesy of St Bernadette Primary B School, San Ġwann, which recently won the Ekoskola Green Flag award:

• Don't send Christmas cards; send e-cards by e-mail or text messages, or better still, give greetings verbally;

• Don't use disposable cutlery, paper napkins and other paper or plastic tableware when partying;

• Don't cut fresh plants to make Christmas decorations; instead pick dried vegetation such as acorns, fir cones, and broken branches;

• Don't cut down trees as Christmas decorations; use an artificial or a potted tree instead;

• Don't buy expensive decorations; make your own from waste material instead;

• Don't switch on your MP3 or CD player to listen to Christmas carols; try singing them yourself;

• Don't throw away torn or broken Christmas decorations; have them repaired or recycle them to make new items.

• Do buy presents and gifts that can be recycled or refilled;

• Do save gift wrapping paper to recycle or to wrap another present;

• Do re-use Christmas cards for crafts;

• Do cut off the front of Christmas cards to make gift tags;

• Do use wordings from used Christmas cards to make your own cards;

• Do turn empty plastic bottles to Christmas decorations;

• Do pass on unwanted toys and gifts to other children who may better appreciate them;

• Do use waste material to decorate your crib;

• Do cut back on your Christmas lighting;

• Do give a Christmas present to Mother Earth and everyone who lives on it by ecologically conscious.