We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

We can all to take small steps to help contribute to a bigger change in tackling climate issues.

Following this year's COP26, we are all aware of just how important it is to make every effort we can to be more sustainable. But small changes can make all the difference, especially over the festive period when waste, consumption, and shopping is at an all-time high.

As thousands of households up and down the country will be buying Christmas trees this year to decorate their homes for the festive season, now is the perfect time to take action.

'It takes around eight years for farmers to grow a decent sized Christmas tree, and over this time, the tree is helping to clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen - this is called photosynthesis,' Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk explains. 'Essentially, the more real trees we buy, the more that can be planted in their place, meaning that they can continue to exhale oxygen which slows down climate change.

If you were to purchase an artificial tree, whilst you may be able to reuse it (having it for 10 years would keep its environmental impact lower than that of a real tree), when it comes to purchasing a new one, it will be thrown out and end up in a landfill site for hundreds of years.

Another benefit of buying a real tree is that it can be recycled when you’re done with it. There are companies that will pick up your tree and grind it into mulch for you, (also contact for your local council for recycling information), or you can usually drop it off at a garden centre.

Happen to have a garden shredder at home? 'Make sure you take the correct safety precautions and cut off each branch and place them one by one into the shredder, ensuring you don't jam the machine. You can use the mulch in your garden to protect your plants,' Chris advises.

Another benefit of buying a real tree is that it can be replanted. How, exactly? Purchasing a tree with the root ball still intact means that you can replant it outside as long as it has been taken care of. Remember, this means keeping it away from heat sources.

If you do plan on replanting the tree, keep in mind that it can only be kept in your house for around one to two weeks.

'Keen gardeners can actually make use of the branches from Christmas trees and use them to protect garden beds in the cold,' Chris says. 'The branches can be used as a frame with a frost protection fabric on top.'

Planting your own tree can be such a rewarding task. It may take around eight years to grow but what could be more exciting than having a Christmas tree that you have grown yourself?

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

From hypericum berries to pine and eucalyptus, fill your home with the magical scent of Christmas with this lovely festive bouquet. It's one of our favourites!

This enchanting, fairy tale-style Christmas bouquet is a beautiful mix of festive red blooms. The bouquet features Red Rose Freedom, Single Pine, Ozomanthus Silver, Hypericum and Eucalyptus Dyed Burgundy.

These scene-stealing flowers will brighten up any home. Featuring carnations in shades of red and burgundy alongside delicate white Gypsophila and gold Ruscus, they are the perfect touch in every home. 

We just love how pretty and elegant this bouquet is! Cherry red roses, snow white Alstroemeria and painted gold Eucalyptus, sprinkled with Salal leaves, make this a truly delightful arrangement.

How beautiful is this Christmas bouquet? The Red Carpet Red Bouvardia boasts beautiful, small trumpet shaped flowers framed by bright green leaves. It's a luxury touch perfect for any home.

This yellow-hued bouquet makes the perfect centrepiece. Perfect for spreading joy on a winter's day, it features yellow roses, lavender, Blue Oxypethalum and Pink Hypericum.

If you're looking for something more neutral, then you'll love this bouquet filled with winter white roses and lilies. It's so stunning!

Fill your home with the sweet scent of Christmas with this gorgeous bouquet. This spectacular arrangement delights with red and orange roses, a red lily and a selection of gorgeous greenery.

Fill your home with rich pinks and purples with this gorgeous jewel Christmas bouquet. It features a wonderful arrangement of Cerise Roses, Purple Roses, Purple Carnations, Purple Spray stocks, Eucalyptus Populous, Eucalyptus Cinerea, Green Goldcrest, Foliage, Chrysanthemum and Rhododendron.

We're big fans of this Christmas foliage bouquet, which includes striking blue eryngium, bright red hypericum, and an assortment of stems, pine cones and cinnamon sticks.

We love the dainty, almost ethereal look of these Christmas flowers. White clouds of carnations and white Chrysanthemums are nestled within a silver chalice of pistachio. Pop this on the console table in the hallway or sideboard in the living/dining room.

These letterbox Christmas flowers are bound to make the recipient smile. Included is a festive mix of carnations, chrysanthemums, a rose and alstroemeria.

This beautiful festive bouquet features fragrant oriental lilies, roses, silver foliage and seasonal berries.

Bursting with rich purples, these Christmas flowers are artfully decorated with a mix of statice, frosted berries, frosted faux apples, white chrysanthemums and eryngium for an extra festive touch.

How many flowers can you see? This decadent festive luxury bouquet has it all, from Sorbet Avalanche Rose to red Naomi roses, white cymbidium orchids, white lisianthus, and much more!

This lovely Christmas bouquet is filled with a mix of red, green and soft pink, perfect for bringing some warmth to your home in the cold winter months.

If you love hydrangea, you'll adore this Christmas bouquet which contains red hydrangeas, upper dark secret roses, red hypericum berries, and copper cinerea eucalyptus.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.