Life Hack: How to not cost the earth this Christmas.
Published 24 November 2020
Life Hack: How to not cost the earth this Christmas
The silly season is upon us and the waste woe monster is beginning to rear its ugly head.
The Christmas period is a time for spending time with your loved ones, not for breaking the bank buying people stuff they don’t need with money you don’t really have.
If you’re someone who wants to make the silly season a sustainable one, keep reading.
Here are 25 ways you can make the silly season, less silly.
Get crafty this Christmas. Try making a tiny terrarium (bottled forest), scented scrubs or herbed salts.
Find Fairtrade. Opt for food and gifts that empower communities on a global scale.
Turn something old into something new. If you can't do it, Citizen Leather probably can.
When it comes to wrapping, choose paper that is recyclable, or give Furoshiki (the Japanese art of wrapping gifts in fabric) a go & stay away from shiny wrapping paper as it contains glitter, plastics and other non-paper additives, and often can't be recycled.
Why buy Christmas crackers when you can make your own.
One's trash, another's treasure. Instead of purchasing new gifts, check out antique stores and charity shops.
Donate a Drape - give the gift of curtains to a family that needs them, OR Donate a Day for Play - sponsor a child who has come into contact with a social service agency to attend Wilderkids (if you want us to create an e-voucher, we can! Just flick an email to di@sustaintrust.org.nz)
Give them a voucher to the world's most exclusive restaurant: your house.
Shout them a Reusabowl and a spork and then take them out for a cute lunch date at your local park.
Who doesn't love a candle? (well, a moth might not) Choose candles that are made from beeswax, soy or vegetable wax. Not yucky petroleum-derived paraffin.
Give life to old CDs by upcycling them into shiny decorations and make your tree sparkle. If you are buying new, buy paper or wool, which can be recycled.
Defrost your freezer before Christmas. It will work more efficiently and create more space to store leftover food.
Always carry a reusable bag. Especially when shopping for gifts. #notjustforthesupermarket.
Make your own greeting cards. Use the cards you received last year, a child's artwork or your own craftiness to create new Green Christmas cards.
Co-purchase a gift. Join forces with someone else and buy something that will last. Buy for life, not for trends.
Steer clear of mass-manufactured beauty buys. Not only do they contain chemicals that aren't great for your skin, but they're often packaged in materials that can't be recycled. If in doubt, grab a sampler set from Ethique.
Make memories, not a mess. Give an experience rather than a 'thing'. An animal encounter a Wellington Zoo, a trip to Kapiti Island, a year pass to Zealandia.
Buy them a KeepCup and a voucher to their favourite coffee shop
Give them a growler (fancy word for a reusable bottle) for more sustainable drinking habits.
Ban the bow. Use organic fabric ribbons instead and add sprigs of rosemary, pine needles, or cinnamon sticks to make your gift earthy, festive, and eye-catching.
Avoid artificial trees. The most eco-friendly Christmas tree is a live potted native (but make sure you plant it after).
Buy LED string lights. They use less energy than incandescent bulbs. Plus they’re brighter, last longer, and don’t produce much heat. If you can, try buying secondhand. Most op shops have Christmas stores. Also - remember to turn them off at night
Be smart with leftovers. Try to avoid them in the first place by carefully planning your menu and shopping list. Choose foods you can freeze or foods that can be used in different ways. We love Love Food Hate Waste
Choose presence over presents. Christmas Day is about spending time with friends and family.
We hope we've given you some ideas on how to have a green Christmas.
And remember, the best gift you can give someone is your time... and food.
Meri Kirihimete!