Thinking about a sustainable Christmas?

So, it’s Christmas time – what are you going to be doing to make your festive season more sustainable? What do I even mean by sustainable? I mean making sure that your actions will have as little effect on the environment as possible.

Enjoying a sustainable Christmas doesn’t mean you have to miss out on anything - all you need to do is have a think about your actions, and perhaps change a few basic things. You can still exchange presents, have a feast and play your game of cricket/frisbee on the back lawn (a whanau favourite for me!) and by considering a few basic things, you could easily have a more sustainable festive season.

There are loads of little things you can do!

Try regiving old/unwanted presents – if you haven’t used it in the last year, give it to someone who will! Be that to a friend or to a charity shop, someone else will benefit.

Collect wrapping paper after the present opening frenzy – save decent sized bits for next year and put the rest out in the recycling. Pretty tea towels can be used as wrapping paper, so can old newspapers – especially the cartoon section and colour photos.

Consider buying fewer presents. If you have a big family, why not get together and organise a Secret Santa? Put everyone’s name in hat, draw out someone else’s name then make them the only person you buy a present for. You can then get one cool present for one person and then receive one in return.

Why not consider decorating a tree in the backyard or a pot plant in the lounge instead of buying a plastic or chopped down tree.

For more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle check out our Rubbish section.

Also, check out 12 Days to a Greener Christmas, a Christmas list put together by the Packaging Council of New Zealand.