FIVE STEPS TO A GREENER XMAS
Having a sustainable Christmas doesn’t have to be daunting, and it also doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the festive fun! “It’s really important to look for quick wins,” says Pip. “You don’t have to be an ‘eco-grinch’ – there are actually lots of simple things you can do to make Christmas celebrations a bit more environmentally-friendly.”
1 The first one is easy – when you’re out shopping, remember your reusable tote. And of course, don’t forget your reusable drink bottle and coffee cup!
2 Think about choosing plastic-free presents. Research shows experiential gifts contribute more to happiness than material items, so you could gift tickets to a gig, the movies or a sports game, or vouchers for mini golf, go-karting, whale watching, a spa or restaurant.
3 Get creative with your wrapping! Steer clear of anything shiny or foil-backed, or decorated with glitter, which can’t be recycled. Could you wrap gifts in a scarf or tea towel and make that part of the gift? Or use old newspapers, and magazines or reuse wrapping paper and gift bags you already have at home.
4 One big issue that’s often forgotten about at Christmas is food waste, which not only hurts your wallet, but also the environment. The best thing is to plan – think about who you’re cooking for and what they will be eating, write a shopping list, store food correctly and then re-use leftovers. If you don’t have a compost, it’s the perfect time to start one up! It’s much easier than you think and there are very stylish little units that can sit on your kitchen bench or under the sink – with no fuss and no odours!
5 It’s always better to reduce and reuse – but it’s really important to recycle what we can, so useful materials are diverted from landfills. I’m a big fan of a new app called Recycle Mate, which shows you how to recycle correctly whether you’re at home, at a relative’s house or on holidays. It costs nothing, covers all areas of Australia and provides info on how to recycle everything – from soft plastics and drink cans, to running shoes, batteries and mobile phones.