December 10, 2024
Enjoy the festive season while honouring your low-waste commitment.
This time of the year is filled with family, friends, food and festivities. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the celebrations and forget about your commitment to living a low-waste lifestyle.
Here are a few sustainable tips to consider, so you’re ready to make mindful decisions on the day.
Low Waste Gift Giving
- Gift consumables and experiences. Spoil your friends or family with tasty, premium food products they may not buy themselves. Choose from this amazing range of award-winning, NZ made products . Check out this 5 minute read for ideas on making your own gifts. Another sustainable idea is to gift an experience, which supports NZ businesses and is packaging free!
- Giving home-made gifts. Use your unique skill set to create your own meaningful gifts. Whether it be ceramics, baking, art, photography, essential oils, body care or woodwork, you will create a thoughtful and special gift.
- Living Gifts. Perennials (such as Agapanthus, Dahlias or herbs) are a lovely gift that will give year after year. A blossoming Christmas lily provides beauty each year and a fruit tree becomes a yearly harvest.
- Sustainable swaps. Gift a zero waste product to replace everyday items, such as: reusable baking mats, ice block moulds, a stainless steel tumbler, or silicone stretch lids. Simple swaps are a supportive way to introduce new ideas to friends and family who may not be as aware.
Low Waste Gift Wrapping
- Wrapping paper alternatives. Using a reusable piece of fabric to wrap a present is not a new idea, but a good one! Learn more about Furoshiki, the Japanese method of fabric wrapping. Another option is to gift a locally made ceramic plate, filled with Christmas goodies. Or fill a glass jar with cookies or homemade drinking chocolate.
- Reuse & reuse again. Choose wrapping that can be reused multiple times. For example, a decorative tin, gift bag or cute box. Save and reuse ribbons and wrapping paper or use a brown paper bag as wrapping and get the kids to decorate it.
- Be Prepared. In the excitement of gift opening, it’s easy to forget to recycle or save materials. Be prepared with 2 bags: one to store reusable bags, boxes, ribbons and bows, and the other to collect paper that is recyclable.
Low Waste Menu and Celebrations
- Home Cooking. Reduce food packaging by cooking from scratch. However, be kind to yourself by not over committing yourself in the kitchen. Ask everyone to bring a dish, most people are happy to help when asked. Check out our amazing variety of Christmas recipes here.
- Reusable containers. If your Christmas menu is extensive, be prepared to store it properly and feast all week long. Avoid plastic wrap by using your own containers. Ask family members to bring a container for left overs.
- Love your leftovers. Have a plan so that nothing goes to waste. Making bone broth, ham salad or frittata is a great way to use up Christmas leftovers. Freeze anything you won’t be able to eat straight away.
- Sustainable decorations. Make your own festive decorations with seasonal flowers, tree branches, pinecones or driftwood. Look for second hand decorations and be a part of the cycle by donating decorations you don’t use anymore.
- Many hands make light work. Avoid disposable plates, cups and cutlery as they generate unnecessary waste. Get the crew to help with washing up.
Starting new low-waste traditions may seem like it goes in the too-hard-basket. However, after the first year, it will start to become the norm in our household. Use your initiative and dedication to get the sustainable ball rolling this year!