Paper and Bloom Tips for a Sustainable Christmas: How to Enjoy an Eco-Friendly Festive Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and preparations are in full swing for this special day. While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, every dollar we spend (or don’t spend) is a vote for the world we want to create. 

From unwanted gifts to uneaten food, Christmas waste facts are hard to swallow.
The amount of waste we produce increases by 30% during this holiday season.

Every year in Australia, nearly 5 million tonnes of food goes straight into landfill, and we get through about 150,000 kilometers of wrapping paper – That’s enough to go around the whole of Australia six times!

Christmas is a time of fun, laughter and love. More of us than ever before are looking to make truly sustainable changes to protect the planet in our daily lives. Christmas is a brilliant time to be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future. With a little effort and imagination you can and you will have an eco-friendly Christmas!

So here are our tips on how to make your end of the year celebrations friendlier to our beloved planet:

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

1. Reuse before purchasing
   Before heading to the shops to purchase new Christmas tree decorations, can we think about reusing what we have or swapping with other people? I saw a post on the Zero Waste + Plastic Free Living Perth WA Facebook page from a lady who was offering to swap her red Christmas decoration for other colors.. What a clever idea!
2. Make your own decorations
   Save yourself some money by upcycling old decorations or making your own using spare materials around the house. There is a lot in nature and around the house that can be repurposed to make cute decorations. I came across these adorable Christmas tree decoration by Tulips and a Toolbox and guess what… They are made of Toilet paper rolls. Love them!
3. Avoid single-use
   Avoid single-use cutlery, glasses and plates. Instead, use ceramic, glass and the cutlery you use at home. If you don’t have enough, ask a friend or a family member to bring some or go get some from the opshops. My favorite opshop is GoodSammy in Osborne Park. Go for the fabric version of napkins and tablecloth rather than the single use ones.
   Are you a Christmas crackers person? I never heard of them until I moved to Australia. They must be an Australian or perhaps an English thing 🙂 Check out The Conscious Cracker Co! Their Christmas crackers are filled with a mix of different plastic free items, like handmade beautiful soap, happy bee mix seed packet, stainless steel peg etc.
4. Look into alternative Christmas trees
   Switch your traditional Christmas tree for an arty DIY creation made from items you have at home. Make it 3D by tying branches, twigs and sticks together with twine and hanging your creation from the wall or ceiling. Check out Les Petites françaises awesome trees made with wine corks.
   Another idea is to repurpose your front yard or backyard trees, or other potted plants into living, festive, Christmas trees that can be enjoyed year after year, and won’t end up in landfill. That’s our plan for this year. Our front yard pine tree will be our Christmas tree. Stay tuned for photos!
5. Think about your lights
   Use LED lights on your Christmas tree, they use less energy, last longer and look just as good! Also, switch off your lights at night – it’s safer and won’t cost the earth.

FESTIVE FOOD – WATCH THE WASTE

1. Reduce your food waste
   Food production is the biggest cause of tropical deforestation. Try to cut any waste by planning ahead – be realistic about how much food you need and use up leftovers. Instead of clingfilm, use Tupperware or wax cloth covers to keep leftovers nice and fresh! If you are looking for eco-friendly alternatives to foil and plastic cling film, Go for Zero stocks fantastic Australian brands. Check them out!
2. Plan ahead and make a shopping list
   Plan ahead for the festive season so you don’t overbuy. Consider the number of people attending and go from there. Before you step foot in a supermarket, write down everything you need for all your menus and other snacks and nibbles. Then when it’s time to do the ‘Big Shop’ stick to your list.
3. Have a plant-based Christmas dinner
   If you want to keep up with the spirit of the season, going for some plant-based options is a simple way to do something sustainable for the planet and its inhabitants.
   Want to be ethical but keep to tradition? Tofurkey is the perfect plant-based swap if you’re staying close to meaty traditions! Check out Just Ingredients for vegetarian Christmas menu ideas.

GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF SUSTAINABLE GIFTING

1. Switch to eco-friendly wrapping paper and gift tags
   Sticky tape, ribbons and paper covered in glitter can’t be recycled, so stay away from those types if you can. Switching to brown eco-friendly paper instead will help to minimize the high levels of waste produced at this time of year.
   Most wrapping paper are lined with plastic. Why not use fabric instead? It can be a scarf or a repurposed piece of fabric.
   Make it extra special with our eco-friendly sustainable gift tags. Plantable gift tags are the extra touch your holiday gift needs plus it’s zero waste!
2. Send Plantable Christmas Cards
   A zero waste alternative to standard greeting cards is plantable Christmas cards. When the card is planted in soil, the seeds will grow and the paper will compost away.
3. Gifts
   The best gift is the one that will actually get used!Give your local shops and markets some love this Christmas! On Sunday 28th November, Perth Upmarket will welcome some of the finest artisans, gourmets, and designers from Perth. As well as supporting independent businesses, you’re likely to seek out special finds you won’t get anywhere else. Small businesses often put more care and love into their products, too! You’re most likely to find something your loved ones don’t already own and the carbon footprint of your purchase is much lower.Eco swaps/reusables are fantastic gift ideas. Check out Ineco Eco-Directory for super cool Australian businesses. Why not help a loved one make the change to eco household and personal care refills with Perth based Inspired Eco Warrior?Gifting experiences is another great way to reduce waste. We’re very lucky in Perth with awesome workshops organised by fabulous women. Here are some of our favorites:Make your own natural perfume with Gandha Temple
   Attend a Sketch night with Open Hand Creative
   Learn about mushroom cultivation or horticulture at Plant Playground
   Get to know about your skin with the Limon SpaThrough out this holiday season, I encourage us (you and myself!!) to look at everything I want to purchase and think about whether or not you really need it. A quick pause, a second of thought will make all the difference.The gift culture and industry, especially in Australia, keeps on growing year after year. It wouldn’t hurt if we all make an effort of gift ideas that are sustainable and not harmful to the environment.

   Let’s make a new tradition this year to go green and enjoy a zero-waste holiday celebration!