Do Christmas jumpers contain plastic?
12 million novelty jumpers are set to be bought this year, despite 65 million festive jumpers sitting forgotten at the backs of our wardrobes. With one in three under 35s purchasing a new Christmas jumper every year we look into what negative impact this has the environment around us.
Christmas jumpers contain plastic
According to a survey by Hubbub only 29% of shoppers know that most Christmas jumpers contain plastic.
The common plastic fibre has been linked to the issue of ocean plastic pollution, as it sheds masses of microfibres when washed. A study by Plymouth University discovered acrylic was far more ecologically damaging than polyester.
Hubbub project co-ordinator Sarah Divall said: “We don’t want to stop people dressing up and having a great time at Christmas, but there are so many ways to do this without buying new.
“Fast fashion is a major threat to the natural world and Christmas jumpers are particularly problematic as so many contain plastic.
“We’d urge people to swap, buy second-hand or re-wear and remember a jumper is for life, not just for Christmas.”
The charity also warned that our Christmas dinners are putting the planet at risk because of the amount of food waste, and urged households to consider how much they need to buy and whether it will all get eaten.
According to their research, across the UK an estimated 2 million turkeys and 74 million mince pies will be binned, costing British people money and harming the environment.
How can you be more eco-friendly this Christmas?
- Many of us already have a jumper languishing in our wardrobes so why waste money on another.
- Swap with family or friends – an easy way to get a new christmas jumper from last year with minimal effort.
- Add a temporary festive touch to an ordinary jumper you can wear all year round.
- With so many jumpers only worn once, it’s easy to find an almost new jumper in a local charity shop.
If you require a waste disposal plan, North West Waste Consultants can ensure that you’re following the suitable procedure and have the correct documentation for the disposal of your hazardous waste.
