5 tips for a more sustainable Christmas
Christmas is just around the corner and while the stockings are hung and your tree is most likely up, there’s still time to stop and think about how you can make this one more sustainable.
Model wears Sophia swimsuit in Earthy Stripe, $68
With the issues we are currently facing in Australia with bushfires and climate change, it’s never been a better time to think about how you can have more of an eco-Christmas.
While the festive season usually signals a peak period of consumption (when we go all out on gifts, celebrations and feasting), with a few little changes, you can actually still have an eco-friendly Christmas without skimping on the festive magic.
We round up five small ways to have a greener, more sustainable Christmas.
1. Buy gifts that last
Avoid buying things that the kids will get sick of or grow out of in no time at all. Instead opt for something like a little potted indoor plant that will last forever (well, hopefully if you have a green thumb). Not only is it sustainable friendly, it will also teach little ones some valuable lessons in how to care for something and keep it alive.
2. Support local
Instead of buying brands from other countries (that will have been flown here and therefore high in emissions) shop locally this year. While buying within Australia is great, you could even go one step further and set yourself the goal of only buying from your local shops and markets.
3. Give handmade gifts
Another great way to help the planet, is to make your own presents. Knit a scarf, make a toy, bake some cookies or make some chutneys.
4. Switch to eco-friendly wrapping paper
I read somewhere that Australians will use more than 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper this Christmas. That’s a lot of waste. Choose recyclable wrapping paper and use last year’s Christmas cards as tags. Better still, go for brown paper wrapped up with twine and pop a few bits of eucalyptus tucked into the string – it’s both sustainable and beautiful.
And remember, sticky tape, ribbons and paper covered in glitter can't be recycled, so stay away from those types.
5. Send Christmas emails
I hate to think about the staggering number of Christmas cards that are thrown away each year. Instead of sending or giving Christmas cards this year why not consider just sending a nice emails to your loved ones. You could dress in a festive theme, snap a family pic and send a digital copy with a nice message to spread some eco-Christmas cheer.