Article 15/12/2021

Planet-friendly holiday guide

By Carol Fung

With Australians producing 540kg of household waste per person, each year, let’s bring this number down with a planet-friendly Christmas, New Year’s and holidays.

Here are some easy tips that will help you reduce your environmental footprint over the silly season, but won’t impact the fun factor. 

Planet-friendly holiday tip 1:

Rethink your wrap.

Wrap your gifts in a piece of fabric you already have on hand, or go for tissue paper that you received a delivery in, or wrapping that’s made from recycled material. Avoid anything glossy, shiny or glittery. (And save the wrapping paper that you receive, to reuse again.)

If you want to know if your wrapping paper can be recycled or not, use the scrunch test. Scrunch up the paper in your hands and then let it go. If the paper stays scrunched up then it can be recycled but, if it unfolds by its own accord, then it likely contains non-recyclable elements.

Planet-friendly holiday tip 2:

Give cleaner.

After a year of lockdown, gift an experience like concert tickets, classes or a night out at your favourite restaurant (support your local businesses)!

Or plant a tree or adopt an animal on their behalf, or donate to a charity that reminds you of them, like one we’ve partnered with in Crunch.

Planet-friendly holiday tip 3:

Give simpler and again.

Choose a few small gifts with meaning that will last a lifetime. Consider re-gifting something you know they can use more than you, something second-hand, local or handmade.

Visit your local farmer’s markets to support local growers and producers, or make a trip to an op-shop and find a treasure.

Planet-friendly holiday tip 4:

Give green.

Look for upcycled gifts made from recycled material, or products from sustainable brands whose values align with yours.

Planet-friendly holiday tip 5:

Ditch single-use.

Use actual dishes, cutlery, glasses and table cloth instead. It will make clean up time a little longer, but it will be far more eco-friendly. Saving waste from ending up in landfill or waterways.

Look for upcycled gifts made from recycled material, or products from sustainable brands whose values align with yours.

Planet-friendly holiday tip 6:

Carpool with friends and family.

Reduce your commuting carbon footprint for your next event or trip. Traveling together is more fun, affordable, and environmentally friendly!

Planet-friendly holiday tip 7:

Take a reusable water bottle.

Always bring a refillable drink bottle. This will help to to reduce the millions of plastic bottles thrown away every year in our waterways and the ocean.

By Carol Fung