Navigating the Silly Season With Sustainability in Mind - Bob’s Guide to Christmas With Care
The most wonderful time of year can also be the most unsustainable. Well-meaning presents from relatives go straight to the back of the cupboard and plastic trinkets from bon bons and oodles of wrapping paper mostly end up in landfill.
This silly season, put a ho-ho-hold on the waste and follow Bob’s tips for a Christmas with care.
Presents with Purpose
Everyone loves to give and receive gifts, but often the emphasis is on quantity, not quality. Take time to consider the people you’re buying for, and ask yourself these questions: Do they really need this? Have I asked them what they would like? Is this something that is going to serve a purpose for a long period of time? Is there a local business I could buy this from instead of ordering overseas?
Surprises are fun, but having a conversation about what you would actually like to receive can avoid the awkwardness of getting a present you don’t like or have no use for. If the person you’re buying for won’t tell you what they want, consider ditching it altogether or keep the receipt! Give them the option of exchanging for something they would like more, and therefore use.
Supporting your local businesses is especially important around Christmas time - this can be the most fruitful time of year, but those profits help to sustain us through the slow periods. Buying local also helps to reduce the carbon emissions created from ordering overseas.
Instead of stuff and things, gift an experience - quality time spent together, concert tickets, a relaxing massage. You could treat your loved one to a day of self care - gift vouchers are available for purchase at Bob!
Sometimes the best gifts can also be the most budget friendly - handmade presents show someone you care through your time and creativity, and are as eco-friendly as it gets.
Wrapping Up Waste
Image via Pinterest.
According to international aid agency CARE Australia, Australians use more than 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper at Christmas time. Being thin and full of ink, wrapping paper is not the ideal item to recycle - and if it has glitter or tape, it can’t go in at all. This Christmas, substitute the rubbish roll for cloth, tea towels (make them part of the present!) or reuse paper from packages, newspapers or old print-outs. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make them look beautiful with old ribbon saved from previous presents, or sprigs of flora from your backyard. What you’ll end up with is uniquely wrapped presents for your loved ones, without the eco consequences.
Detrimental Decorations
The modern day gold, frankincense and myrrh is bon bons, baubles and bloating - this year, be wise and consider leaving the Christmas crackers off the table. Whilst it’s fun to gloat over being stronger than your younger brother when you come away with the bigger end, is the terrible joke you’ve heard three times already and the hat that doesn’t fit your head properly worth the tiny plastic toy that will take years to decompose in landfill?
According to an article by the Carbon Trust, an artificial Christmas tree needs to be used for 10 years before having the same environmental impact as a real tree. So don’t purchase a new plastic tree, and if you’ve already got one - use it! If you need to put the presents under something, decorating a tree in your backyard or an indoor pot plant can be an effective substitute.
Plastic baubles and tinsel are money wasters and bound for landfill. Use your old decorations for as long as you can before putting them in the bin, and replace them with sustainable, long lasting options. Check out this website for fair trade and eco friendly ornaments or make your own. Handmade decorations are a great way to recycle old materials from around your house, better for your wallet, and better for the planet.
Christmas Dinner, Carbon Disaster
Oz Harvest wrote that in Australia, over five million tonnes of food waste ends up in landfill each year. Throwing away food is also throwing away the water and energy used to grow, process and transport it. This Christmas, try to only make what you need - avoid buying processed, packaged foods and putting more than you can eat on your plate. Instead of buying things that are individually packaged like chocolate and candy canes, make your own biscuits and desserts. Share leftovers between family members and store them in the fridge or freezer for another day, and sort your waste into the right places so you can compost whatever possible.
Giving the gift of a greener Christmas takes time and preparation, and no one gets it right all the time. Just being conscious of reducing your consumption and reusing what you already have, as well as having a conversation about a more sustainable celebration will make a massive impact.
Bob hopes this guide will help you navigate the silly season with sustainability in mind this year, and wishes you a very Merry Christmas.