As we rush around looking for that perfect last minute gift for our loved ones, sustainability is often the last thing on our minds. But sustainability is more than just what's good for our environment (although that is very important), but also what is sustainable in terms of time, money, and effort.
So, what are some ways to make Christmas time more sustainable for us and our loved ones?
Choose a sustainable gift
Each year we receive over 20 million unwanted gifts at Christmas.
How can we avoid being that person who gives someone an unwanted gift? If you're not sure of what a person likes, and you don't feel comfortable asking them, try a gift voucher rather than an object which might end up in landfill. Gifting an experience is another waste free way to express your love at Christmas time - buy them something they will love, such as a movie ticket, a massage, facial, or an experience such as a winery tasting tour. You can also buy eco-friendly Christmas gifts from a sustainable brand or support a charity doing good work at Christmas time.
Wrap Gifts Sustainably
Australian use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper during Christmas- enough to wrap around Earths equator nearly 4 times!
Why not try some alternatives to traditional wrapping paper this year?
- Fabric wrapping: Instead of paper, use cloth or scarves, which can be reused often.
- Reusable bags: Place gifts inside reusable bags that can be repurposed.
- Recycled wrapping paper: Repurpose old paper such as newspapers, brown paper, directory pages, or maps.
- Natural accents: To enhance gifts, add small decorations such as pinecones, twine, ribbons, or sprigs of greenery.
Play Secret Santa
Many people have big family gatherings on Christmas day, which can really add up - both financially and for the environment. One way to help avoid the financial stress of Christmas is to play Secret Santa with your family!
How do I play Secret Santa?
- Gather all participants together
- Everyone writes their name on a piece of paper with a few ideas of gifts they'd like to get from Secret Santa
- Set the rules, including the price limit for gifts, date, and place of gift exchange
- Draw names from a hat or bowl to decide who gives a present to whom
- Plan the gift exchange
- Let the fun begin!
Save leftovers
In Australia alone, over 5 million tonnes of food end up as landfill each year - enough to fill 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Some ways you can prevent food wastage this Christmas are:
- Invite your friends and neighbours around for a Boxing Day feast to finish off the food!
- Ask everyone to bring a container, so that they can take left over food home
- Freeze or store leftovers so they last longer
- Find recipes which use left over ham, chicken and turkey
- Plan thoroughly before purchasing your food
Some little tweaks to your festive planning and celebrations can bring you some major savings - not only to your pocket and sanity, but the planet as well.
