An ethical Christmas

5 TIPS FOR HAVING AN ETHICAL CHRISTMAS

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. In a few weeks, we’ll be hanging up stockings, singing carols over dinner and unboxing gifts under the Christmas tree.

To double the fun, consider practicing a few ethical things during the holidays. They are not only friendly to the environment and your wallet, but also help to flex your creative muscles – who doesn’t like a challenge? Maybe you’ll wake up on Boxing Day knowing you had a wholesome time with friends and family, while doing this world a great favour.

Handmade cards & gift tags

Who hasn’t handmade a card for their mum on Mother’s Day or dad on Father’s Day when they were young? They don’t have to remain a thing of the past. Instead of paying five dollars for a streamlined card imprinted with a generic message, get your hands dirty and make one for your friend, partner or children. They will love it.

Wrap instead of scrap

Gift wrap is often used and discarded without much thought about its environmental impact. On average, Aussies use more than 150,000 km of Christmas wrapping paper, which is enough to wrap around Earth’s equator nearly four times. Still got some of last year’s wrapping paper? Give it a clean and it’s ready for reuse. Or if you’ve received some new ones with the gift you got this year, save it up for next Christmas. You can also try out gift wrapping made with fabric, or a tea towel, which is easier to re-use than paper.

Evergreen Christmas trees

Artificial Christmas trees are popular for a reason, but let’s not forget about the carbon footprint left behind when making them. These trees are made of mostly PVC plastic which can take hundreds of years to break down and then it breaks down into microplastics. So, unless you own one that is being reused every year, chances are the one standing in your house today will end up in landfill in the new year. There are many alternative ways to make a Christmas tree ‘evergreen’ while maintaining that living room glamour. Buying or renting a live-potted tree is an extremely cost-effective option, as the tree will continue to grow after Christmas and become a staple in the household. Or consider DIY-ing one with cardboard or fairy lights (to save space). If it’s achievable, you can even grow, use and replant your own tree.

Shop and give ethically

It’s shopping and gifting season, but hold your wallet. Are you really spending each dollar of your yearly bonus on where it’s most needed or splurging because marketing emails are telling you to do so? If it’s the latter, take a step back and ask yourself a few questions – is this item a want or a need? Where will it go after the Christmas frenzy? Can it be reused or repurposed? If it’s a gift for someone, will it really suit their needs? Is there a pre-loved alternative that serves the same purpose and delivers the same amount of joy?

It’s important to keep this in mind when shopping for kids too. Our recent research revealed that Australians spend over $1 billion on new toys every Christmas, while throwing out 26.8 million toys in the bin every year. Why not consider buying a pre-loved toy? At Flora & Fauna, pre-loved toys are currently available for purchase, with all proceeds donated to help disadvantaged children in need. A simple act like this will not only save a toy from landfill, but also help another child have a surprisingly better Christmas.

Pass it on

Pass on the eco-conscious spirit to families and friends. Tell others that you would appreciate socially conscious or eco-friendly gifts. Drop a hint on your ideal gift so they can give something you will actually use. If you have an unwanted or pre-loved item that is in good condition, donate it to a local charity – it might just be exactly what another family needs to have a complete Christmas. By Julie Mathers, CEO & founder of Flora & Fauna. https://www.floraandfauna.com.au/