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How to waste less and reuse more at Christmas

From conscious food shopping to using up your leftovers, let Ecover and Little Miss Waste Less help you waste one less thing this festive season

We’re all aware of the importance of living less wastefully to lessen our impact on the planet. Every year, around 300 million tonnes of plastic is thrown away across the globe, and it’s estimated that more than 900 million tonnes of food was wasted in 2019 alone*. That’s why Ecover has partnered with Mr. Men Little Miss to create Little Miss Waste Less. As her name suggests, she doesn’t like waste – and neither does Ecover.

It can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to reducing our waste at home, but wasting less and reusing more doesn’t need to be difficult. In fact, now is the perfect time to make a change, as the most wonderful time of the year is often also the most wasteful. So, Little Miss Waste Less is here to help you waste one less thing with these simple tips…

Plan ahead

Finding new and creative recipes to finish up your leftovers is one of the most fun ways to reduce your festive food waste. Leftover meat is great for making a classic Christmas dinner sandwich or a hearty turkey curry, while a fridgeful of veg can easily be transformed into bubble and squeak, a delicious winter traybake or a spicy vegetarian chilli. Even leftover oil and fat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and re-used for frying, roasting or flavouring gravy, soup and stock.

If you’re really struggling to finish all your leftovers, you could always give some away to family, friends and neighbours, or donate to soup kitchens and food banks. And if all else fails, store the rest in the freezer for a later date.

Shop wisely

When it’s time to tackle the dreaded Christmas Day clean up, Ecover’s products are ideal for limiting your plastic waste, thanks to the brand’s reusable bottles. From washing-up liquid to surface cleaner, you can top up at more than 600 Ecover refill stations across the UK or shop the full range online at ecover.com/ecover-products/refills.

Plus, you can rest assured each product is made to last longer, from the Multi-Surface Concentrated Refill, which replenishes any 500ml cleaning bottle three times, to the 450ml Washing-Up Liquid, which can clean 3,300 plates. You can even refill your Ecover laundry detergent and fabric softener, after you’ve used them to refresh your festive table linen and Christmas jumpers, ready for next year.

Use your leftovers

Clean up with Ecover

When it’s time to tackle the dreaded Christmas Day clean up, Ecover’s Washing-Up Liquid is ideal for limiting your plastic waste, thanks to Little Miss Waste Less' refillable bottles. Just 450ml can clean up to 3,300 plates, and afterwards you can top up at more than 600 Ecover refill stations across the UK, or explore the full range online here.

Plus, there are plenty of other products to keep you going through Christmas and beyond, such as the Multi-Surface Concentrated Refill, which replenishes any 500ml cleaning bottle three times, as long as you give it a good rinse between uses. You can even refill your Ecover laundry detergent and fabric softener, after you’ve used them to refresh your festive table linen and Christmas jumpers, ready for next year.

Other ways you can waste one less thing all year round…

• Carry a reusable coffee cup in your bag instead of buying and binning more disposable cups

• Swap your single-use cling film for food storage containers, reusable sandwich bags or beeswax wraps

• Repair your clothing instead of replacing it where possible to reduce the amount going to landfill

• Keep a plastic carrier bag in your bag or car so you don’t have to keep picking up new ones from the shop

• Compost your kitchen and garden waste and use it to revitalise houseplants or improve the soil in your outdoor space

• Buy second-hand where you can, whether that’s furniture, clothing, tech, tools, bikes or vehicles

Win a family eco-adventure with Little Miss Waste Less

Don’t miss your chance to win a sustainable living adventure to the Scottish Highlands, worth £4,000! The prize includes a four-night stay for two adults and two children in an eco-friendly luxury log cabin, complete with a travel allowance, a welcome hamper, a fun family activity and more.