Union
Climate
Action
Low-Carbon Christmas Action Kit
While you reward yourselves for a year of hard work at your work Christmas party, keep in mind the footprint of your event. And as you head off to celebrate with family and whanau, check out our tips for keeping your holiday impact on the environment low – the planet needs a break too! Merry Christmas Nga mihi o te wa me te Tau Hou.
ACTION@CHRISTMAS The Christmas Party
Decorations
Organising Catering
Have fun at work making decorations from recycled materials like paper, loo rolls, light bulbs and CDs.
Choose a venue that’s central or on a public transport route, otherwise organise carpooling or a bus. Do ask for seasonal produce from local suppliers, preferably free-range or organic, and minimise the meat. Don’t order too much as over-catering leads to wasted food. Don’t use plastic plates and cups. Do use crockery or biodegradable options like these: www.potatoplates.com, or simply serve finger food. Too hard to organise? Then go out to eat. Do support local restaurants rather than global chains though.
Giving gifts
Encourage colleagues to think about sustainable gifts and wrapping. Think edible treats, plants, experiences like theatre tickets, and locally produced or Fairtrade goods. Alternatively give donations to charity instead. Gifts can be wrapped in pages from magazines, fabrics, colourful tea-towels, or even an old board report. Separate recycling, food scraps and general rubbish at the end of your do. Bag up recycling and food scraps for people to take home if there are no facilities onsite. Fold and reuse wrapping paper where you can.
Christmas cards
Make them electronic, not paper.
Buy a potted native tree to display indoors instead of a cut pine, or decorate a living tree outside instead.
If you want Christmas lights use the low energy LED type and don’t leave them on 24/7.
Closing down over Christmas
Remind everyone to switch off computers, printers and monitors at the wall. If you have an automatic thermostat, make sure it is set to ‘holiday mode’ or switched off. Cancel your usual deliveries and collections so others’ time and resources aren’t wasted.
Going away
Drive efficiently, carpool, get a service and check your tyre pressure before you leave. Keep it slow and steady, and when you get there remove roof racks and extra weight in the car to help fuel efficiency. Respect the landscape and community you are descending upon. Dispose of waste thoughtfully, spend money in local shops, and be sparing with local resources like water.
New Year Resolution
Ask your employer to make a sustainable New Year resolution, like to develop a sustainability policy.
Make your own New Year resolution to reduce your personal carbon footprint, see www.myfootprint.org, and spread the sustainability message to colleagues, friends and family.
UNIONCLIMATEACTION.ORG.NZ