Tips for a Sustainable Christmas

Tips for a sustainable Christmas

Live Green this festive season

Australians are expected to spend millions of dollars in the lead up to the festive season and making the right choice is essential to becoming more sustainable. There are many simple actions we can all take this Christmas to make a difference, and living green can also save you money.

Here are some ideas on how to have a sustainable festive season, and give our environment a “present” this summer.

Cards, wrapping and decorating

Source cards and gifts from charity stores such as those run by Red Cross and Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.
Recycle your Christmas cards in your recycling bin at home.
Use recycled or pre-loved bags, newspaper or fabric to wrap your gifts. Tie your present with a bow instead of sticky tape and use paper that can be recycled.
Reuse Christmas decorations, or involve the kids and make your own. Donate unwanted decorations to re-use organisations like Freecycle or Reverse Garbage.
If you’re hanging lights for the festive season, use energy-efficient LED lighting.
Buy a living Christmas Tree or use a native tree and plant it in the garden or a pot after Christmas.

Festive food
Buy locally-sourced and seasonal free-range products and support local produce markets and/or Fair Trade food.
Buy food with limited amounts of packaging.
Grow your own herbs and vegetables in small pots where there’s plenty of sun – perhaps give plants as a gift.
For the gift that keeps on giving - give a seedling to loved ones to grow food and a compost bin or worm farm to help 'close the loop' and recycle organic waste.
Ask the Australian Marine Conservation Society for a copy of their free Sustainable Seafood Guide.
Use leftovers in salads, pastas, stews, soups, sandwiches, stir fries, omelettes, fry ups or fried rice.
Avoid disposable plates and cups or buy biodegradable ones which can be composted. Bamboo plates will last and can be put through the dishwasher.

Gift ideas
Don’t buy a pet as a gift as a general rule and carefully consider your own pet purchase. A great gift for animal lovers is to donate to a trusted animal welfare charity like DoggieRescue.com.
Give homemade gifts (eg. bake organic biscuits and give them as presents in reused jars), or give a box of fresh, organic and in-season food.
Choose Fair Trade consumables such as chocolate and coffee or Fair Trade goods.
Visit vintage fairs or antique markets to find that special second-hand sustainable gift.
Consider a Kris Kringle arrangement with your extended family - more funds can then go towards a significant gift for each person.
Give your loved ones a treat rather than a gift. Gifts of experiences like a massage or tickets to a show generally have less environmental impact than purchasing goods.
Consider a donation as a Christmas gift through charitable organisations such as St Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army and Oxfam to help people here and overseas.
Donate unwanted presents to local charity shops or to reuse centres like The Bower and Reverse Garbage.

Electronics

Australians are among the highest consumers of electronics in the world, generating 140,000 tonnes of E-waste each year, with an estimated 234 million items of E-waste in or on their way to landfill. (Total Environment Centre 2009).

If you are planning to buy a music player, phone or computer as a present or you end up with unwanted electronics; you can:

Donate or on-sell through online networks such as Freecycle, Scoodi or Ebay.
Organise a swap party in your community or join a local swap group.
Look for products which have take back or recycling programs.
Buy presents which are durable, repairable and carry a good warranty.
Consider leasing a product rather than buying it outright.
Ensure your electronics have good energy star ratings.

Look for rechargeable batteries and recyclable or reusable cartridges, peripherals and paper.
Recycle mobile phones through MobileMuster.
Check the Guide to Greener Electronics developed by Greenpeace for a rating of the major brands .

E-WASTE RECYCLING

City offers a free E-waste recycling drop-off collection for Council residents. Since November 2008, the City has recycled over 35 tonnes of e-waste.

Collections occur quarterly. For more information click here.