Deck the halls with boughs of [native] holly! ‘Tis the season to be jolly! Are you ready for a very festive season after the low-key gatherings of recent years? Here are five ways to create a social and sustainable Christmas and New Year that will fill your soul with joy rather than remorse.

#1 Plan ahead

Over the festive season, 90 per cent of Australians discard over a quarter of their food. To minimise food waste this festive season, plan your meals, make a list and only buy what you need. Resist those impulse buys! Your body will thank you. And if you’re worried about unexpected guests or last-minute invitations where you bring a plate, prepare items you can freeze or store easily if you don’t need them.

#2 Keep it under wraps

Each Christmas, Australians use more than 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper – enough to wrap around the earth’s equator almost four times! This Christmas, look for ways to get creative with wrapping. You could use recycled wrapping paper, sheet music, magazines, fabric, boxes, cloth bags, and glass jars rather than plastic-coated Christmas gift paper, which is not recyclable. Skip the tape and the plastic ribbon too!

#3 Give thoughtfully

There are many fun yet eco-friendly gifts that will delight the receiver. You can give items that people will consume – like handmade bath salts or dessert for two! You can give experiences (trampoline park, here we come!), classes (tango, anyone?) or memberships. Present a herb garden or sunflower seeds to plant in December, or make a donation on their behalf for a gift that keeps on giving. Or, give them the greatest gift of all – time.

#4 Use nature as your inspiration

Whether searching for a new Christmas tree, styling your festive table or decorating for New Year’s Eve, use nature as your inspiration and guide. Pick a Christmas tree you can replant (who says it has to be pine?) Use natural materials, wreaths, cloth napkins, real plates and local, handcrafted, locally-sourced items to decorate your home and table, rather than buying more plastic. Make your Christmas lights LED, solar-powered and fitted to a digital timer.

#5 Be kind to yourself

While it can be tempting to accept every invitation to be merry, you needn't do it all. The end of the calendar year can leave you feeling exhausted, and there is no magic reset button that automatically refills your energy at the start of a new year. Choose to nurture yourself this season – hydrate, enjoy locally sourced seasonal food and drinks, exercise, see family and friends, and most importantly, relax and reflect on what has been and what lies ahead.

Learn more about how to lighten your eco-footprint in our short course Food and the Environment: from farm to fork and Eco Living: natural choices for a green lifestyle.

References

https://www.choosegood.com.au/blogs/news/7-zero-waste-gift-wrapping-ideas

https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/bins/article/item/8d9b0db8da2544e.aspx#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%20nearly%20five%20million,a%20quarter%20of%20their%20food.

https://www.endeavour.edu.au/about-us/blog/how-to-indulge-in-the-festive-season-guilt-free/

https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/article/2020/12/12-days-sustainable-christmas