The festive season is a time for joy, but peak consumerism can have a harsh impact on our planet. Look outside the concrete box this Christmas and opt for sustainable choices that will be easier on your hip pocket, better for the planet and will still elicit gasps of joy on Christmas morning.
DECORATIONS
With a bit of creative nous, almost anything around the house can be turned into a decoration.
Used coffee pods, for example, make a creative adornment for presents or even the Christmas tree. Simply clean them, cut a hole in the top and thread through some ribbon or twine, and you’ve got yourself some crafty little Christmas bells, ready for hanging on a tree or decorating a gift. Cut-up soft drink bottles can be arranged into a boot shape and covered with Christmas-themed fabric to create stand-up stockings, ready for filling with presents.
Create one-of-a-kind wreaths using the leaves and flowers you pick up at your local park or in the garden – the kids are sure to love getting involved in putting it together, and the majority of the materials used will breakdown naturally in the garden or compost after the season is over.
WRAPPING
There’s no need to cut corners on your gift wrapping for the sake of the planet, because there are plenty of eco-friendly ways to wrap up a gift in a way that shows your love for both the planet and the recipient.
Thinking about the context of the gift can help. Gifts for the kitchen can be wrapped in a Christmas-themed tea-towel; the wrapping then becomes part of the present and can be used over and over again, rather than being thrown into landfill on Christmas night. Or, try wrapping presents in cloths, like scarves or bandannas. Again, it’s a beautiful way to incorporate the gift into the wrapping. Add some leaves or flowers from the garden under the ribbon for a simple, cheap decoration.
Old shoeboxes make terrific gift boxes and are a good way to reuse something you would normally just throw out. Wrap it in newspaper to increase your recycling credentials, or ask the kids to draw their best festive pictures on the box for that personal touch. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can pick up fabric scraps or old clothes from the op shop and turn them into Santa sacks, ready to fill with presents to gift to the ones you love.
GIFTS
When purchasing gifts, look for those with minimal packaging to immediately cut the environmental impact. Hit up local op shops or see if there is anything around the house that you can re-gift to a better home. Steer clear of cheap products that are likely to break before Boxing Day and opt for something sturdier, like gifts made of wood or metal. Farmers and craft markets are great places to pick up unique presents with less packaging and plastic – and best of all, they’re handmade, locally sourced and support small businesses.
You could also try your hand at making your own gifts for loved ones. Everyone loves home-cooked treats like jams, brownies, gingerbread or Christmas-themed slices. Decorate jars with a scrap of vintage fabric and twine for that old-fashioned feel.
If you know there is a cause dear to your recipient’s heart, there are plenty of websites that allow you to make donations to causes around the world. From education for girls to goats for villages or tickets to charity lotteries, the options are endless – and it means you’re giving a present to not just one, but two people or potentially a whole village.
Or why not opt for the gift of an experience they’ll never forget? A gift voucher for a delicious dinner out, a hot air balloon ride or a glamping trip is sure to bring a smile to your loved one’s face.
If you are keen to buy something new, try websites or local shops offering sustainable options. Some, like the Melbourne Zoo gift shop, donate some of their profits towards charitable causes like conservation or assistance for farmers – so your gift goes even further.
