People have been urged to think twice about buying Christmas jumpers because of their impact on the environment. 

Every year in December, people dig out their favourite Christmas jumpers or perhaps buy a new one to wear to parties or just around the house. 

It might seem like a harmless ritual but climate researcher Sadhbh O’Neill wants people to think twice before they go out and buy another one. 

“They are part of the fast fashion industry,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“You’re looking at a garment that you might wear a couple of times before Christmas or at Christmas and then not again for the rest of the year. 

“Very often people throw them out afterwards or give them away as unserious gifts that are not necessarily going to be worn. 

“So, this type of fast fashion is particularly bad because the material used in these jumpers and the reason they are so cheap is because of polyester.”

Christmas presents under the tree. Picture by: Alamy.com

Ms O’Neill described polyester as a “very durable and very cheap” material but one that comes with a high carbon footprint because it is made from the fossil fuel petroleum. 

“You’re using a lot of energy and water to make it and releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide - which is a greenhouse gas,” she said.  

“There are toxic dyes in chemicals which impact both the workers and actually those who wear the fabrics. 

“The biggest thing is that the fabric is not biodegradable - it doesn’t break down in the environment. 

“It lasts for hundreds of years.” 

Consumerism

Ms O’Neill acknowledged that Christmas jumpers are a “light hearted” tradition for many people but urged them to think about other ways to celebrate the season. 

“I’m not trying to ruin people’s Christmas but this is something that is invented by industry to get us to buy more stuff,” she said. 

“It has nothing to do with any kind of Christmas tradition.”

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Main image shows friends with Christmas jumpers on. Picture by: Alamy.com