How to have an eco-conscious Christmas!

Written by Pascale Densten (Environmental Engineer)

Christmas is the time of the year where we want to be with family. But it is also, in our current culture, about spending lots of money and buying lots of presents. The amount of packaging and plastic created that will end up in the bin is immense. The amount of wrapping paper we use and throw away is tremendous.

Did you know that the wrapping paper bought in our supermarket is not recyclable? There is plastic in it!

Do you want to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas and also save money? The information that I will share with you below can also be used for birthday parties!

1. Stop buying wrapping paper

Wrapping paper is so expensive. A better way to wrap presents is to use newspaper. Newspaper can then be recycled, or go to the compost (if you make sure there is no tape left), or be used to start your fire in winter time.

You can also use your kids’ drawings. Aren’t your kids making So. Many. Drawings?! You can keep them in a box or a bag and when it is time to wrap presents, use them instead of wrapping paper. That will particularly make grandparents happy to open their presents wrapped in their grandchildren’s beautiful drawings. And make the kids even prouder!

Another solution, and that is my favorite one, is to buy Who Gives A Crap toilet paper. This toilet paper comes in bulk, saves you money (and the worry of not having toilet paper when people rush during a lockdown to the supermarket), but even better does not come in plastic but in this beautiful colourful wrapping paper! Keep them all preciously in a bag and you won’t need to ever worry about spending money on wrapping paper ever again.

2. Stop buying presents in “made in China” stores

Yes, I am talking about Kmart, Big W and such. All the items in these stores are made in China. Every toy comes in more packaging, big boxes and huge plastic amount than you can imagine. Go to your local op shop. You will find treasures, for cheap! You can buy more, without the stress that it will make you bankrupt, and without the guilt that it costs to the environment. If the children only play with their presents for a short amount of time (don’t they all), you can always bring it back to the op shop in a few months! And a good thing about getting an item from an op shop is that you know it is not fragile. If it has not been broken yet, it must be strong quality! Unlike things you would buy at the Reject Shop which are broken within minutes… And you can find treasures for adults too!

The other solution is to join your local Facebook Buy Nothing Group. The Buy Nothing Project is a Facebook group where locals from surrounding suburbs or neighborhoods can post items they want to give away (instead of sending them to landfill) or ask for items they are in need of — for free. This group will change your life. You will be saving tons of items from landfill, get gifted objects that you needed, saving you so much money, and finding a lot of potential presents that you can gift to friends and family. You can also gift your unwanted presents after Christmas, don’t worry your secret is safe!

3. Reuse your Christmas decorations from last year or/and make your own

Every year we are allowed to reuse the same Christmas decorations. Yes we are allowed. Nobody will judge. And if they do, they are stupid. But if you want to change it up a little you can also make your own decorations.

- Make dried orange slices: Slice oranges into 1-2cm thick slices. Pat dry with a clean tea towel. Place them on a metal cooling rack over a baking tray so that air can circulate around them easily and they don't burn or stick. Pop them into a low oven (120°C) for about three hours. Turn them over every half hour or so. Your oranges are ready when they are dry to the touch - they will still be a little bit sticky. The longer you dry them for, the longer they will last. Hanging your dried oranges in front of a light really allows them to shine. Just make a little hole through the top of each orange and thread them with string.

- Make dough ornaments: mix 1 cup of bicarb soda, ½ cup of cornflour, ¾ cup of warm water. Use cookie or gingerbread cutters, even better if there are Christmas shapes cutters e.g. stars, snowflakes, Christmas tree, to create shapes. Make sure the shapes are about 1-2 cm thick so they are not too fragile. Then you can put them in the oven for 1 hour at 100 degres or you can leave them to dry at room temperature for 24 hours.

- Make your own wreath with items from the garden – branches to create the shape, and add flowers, leaves, etc.

There are so many ideas on the internet. Get your imagination and creativity going. And for those who have kids, there are lots of decorations coming home from school and daycare. Use them too!

As for the Christmas tree, you can get a live potted tree you can keep year round, or make your own wooden tree.

4. Think about presents differently – DIY or gift an activity

Isn’t it fulfilling to make something yourself. And to gift it to someone. You can grow a plant from seed or from a cutting, decorate the pot and here you have a beautiful present made with love. Gifts don’t have to cost money. It is the intention that is important. You can grow loofah sponges and gift them to your loved ones. You can create something crafty, make a painting, use your talent.

You can also gift an activity or a voucher. It can be for an experience (think massage, winery, weekend away, horse riding, flight lesson, scuba diving), or a gift certificate that can maybe even be used for shopping and groceries (people sometime just need to buy food and don’t need extra objects in their house).

A child can make its own voucher for a “10 minutes massage” or a “little helper for one hour” voucher. They can create something or draw something. Because a present does not have to be money spent, or time spent in a busy shopping centre.

5. And on Christmas day…...

Avoid using plastic disposable cutlery and napkins but use cloth and washable plates and cutlery. It makes it look more like a lovely dinner or lunch, and less like a picnic.

Put out a separate bin for recyclables while entertaining.

Don’t throw out food. Make space in your freezer for leftovers, or offer guests a take-away bag as they go home, so everyone can enjoy using up the leftovers.

Remember, at the end of the day, we are all here gathered around the table at Christmas for one thing: being together surrounded by loved ones. This is the only thing we will remember about Christmas in 20 years time. Make it special.

HAVE A MERRY ECO-CHRISTMAS!