Sure it’s the time of year when we want to forget all our worries and curl up by the fire, immersed in the new book that Santa just delivered (by airmail no doubt – just think of what his carbon footprint must be like!) but how can we justify it eco-wise? Food that doesn’t get eaten, wrapping paper that gets chucked in the bin almost instantaneously and presents we really don’t need; the mind boggles at the thought of it.

But if you’re eco-conscious and keen to make a difference over the festive season, glance through the following tips to see how you can turn Christmas into a green holiday after all:

• Eco-worriers doubtlessly recede in horror come Christmas as power usage goes through the roof no thanks to the numerous electric decorations we string up all over the place – windows, trees and roundabouts come to mind. If you’re struggling to come to terms with your power usage but still keen to add sparkle search for LED lights which use between 80-90 per cent less electricity than standard versions but still twinkle like stars.

• We’ve all got so much stuff. Think about gift giving before you go ahead and lunge into another wasteful spending spree. Does the person in question really need another perfume/themed tie/pair of socks? Probably not. Have a think about what your friends and family would really like – perhaps cinema tickets, a night of free babysitting for their kids or a donation in their name to the charity of their choice.

• Present wrapping is one of the biggest issues at this time of year – we use reams and reams of paper which looks great for about five seconds before they are torn apart and disposed of. When wrapping think of the trees: Why not use brown paper bags, posters or even pages from a magazine as an alternative? Instead of ribbon why not try old cassette tape or shoestrings – a bit of creativity can go a long way. As for the gifts you receive, try opening them carefully and storing the paper for use again next year.

• For that added glow forget the lights completely and resort to candles. This creates a lovely atmosphere and saves electricity in one fell swoop. If you’re feeling really eco, try to source vegetable or beeswax candles instead of traditional ones that may contain paraffin.

• Prepare for the changes afoot come January and get used to foregoing that plastic bag when shopping. Instead of automatically picking one up at the till, try carrying a couple around with you or better still buy a cloth bag and ban plastic ones all together.