At DBD, one of our core capabilities is Safety, Security, and Environmental. That means a large part of our work involves being conscious of our planet and how we use it, and we have decided to capture that essence of our work by doing something #different with our festive wishes this year.

Last year's GCA report shows almost 100 million Christmas cards were sold in the UK and it takes 1 tree to make 3,000 Christmas cards. That means for UK consumption alone, over 30,000 trees are turned into Christmas cards annually. We knew this was something we didn't wish to be a part of, so instead designed our own DBD Christmas e-card to send electronically to our clients and colleagues!

Having a sustainable Christmas was one thing, but we wanted to do something to care for the people as well as the planet. With that in mind we decided to donate the budget that would have been used for the purchasing and posting of cards to two charities that are close to DBD's heart.

Christmas should be a time of joy and togetherness, but for many young people it can highlight feelings of sadness or helplessness they may be dealing with. Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK, and DBD understands the importance of protecting our future generations by donating to charities working to fight this. Papyrus is a charity which focuses on prevention, passion, hope, and learning to help young people avoid such suffering.

As well as community support, education, and shaping national policy they also provide confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through their helpline, HOPELINEUK. If you or someone you know is suffering with suicidal thoughts this Christmas, please contact them on 0800 068 41 41.

The festive season can also bring hardship to those dealing with life-limiting diseases, and so we chose to donate to St Rocco's Hospice to help ease the suffering of those facing such illnesses so that they may have a comfortable Christmas in a caring environment.

St Rocco's vision focuses on dignity, family, and care - "we want everyone in our community diagnosed with a life-limiting disease, to live well and towards the end of their life have a dignified death in a place of their choice. We care for the whole person and those who matter to them" - and this is a vision we wanted to support this Christmas.

This year we chose to support two causes close to our hearts by avoiding paper cards, but that doesn't mean our festive wishes are any less bright!

All of us here at DBD would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your colleagues, and your families a wonderful Christmas and New Years. We look forward to continuing to work with you as we step into the new decade!