EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY KitchenAid stand mixer from Milly’s Kitchen, Ponsonby millyskitchen.co.nz
A CHRISTMAS TO SUSTAIN YOU The art of giving this year seems inextricably linked to finding ways to be kind; kind to each other, kind to our communities and kind to our environment. It’s a Christmas for sustaining ourselves and thriving with good times, good people and good things. Our local communities are full of businesses and people who ensure the act of making sustainable choices is a joy. Shopping sustainably doesn’t need to be at the sacrifice of fun or the occasional indulgence, in fact, there is even room for a little extravagance. Christmas shopping with this mindset just adds to the satisfying feeling of a great retail session.
environmentally friendly. “It’s hard to go past a stylish Frank Green reusable coffee cup. Buying practical, plastic free, low waste products is easier than ever.” She also suggests people can think beyond just the gift and think about how they package it. “You can get creative by wrapping gifts with reusable fabric or bento style wraps. Sustainability doesn’t have to end with the gift,” enthuses Josie.
No matter where we looked and who we asked, our neighbourhood businesses and retail professionals had great sustainable gift ideas and Christmas hacks to share. Whether it’s creative ideas to do things differently or bigger budget group buys, there’s a little something for everyone.
With a few weeks to go until Christmas there’s still time to shop. Shut the Front Door’s Christmas hours are 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday. 10am – 5pm Sundays.
SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL CARE GIFTS Shut the Front Door at the Three Lamps end of Ponsonby Road has a range of ethical, sustainable and eco friendly products that their super helpful staff can give you the full run down on. One of their recommendations are the delicious smelling Ethique shampoo and conditioner bars. There are no plastic bottles to worry about recycling or going into landfill. The hair bars have low impact packaging and come in formulations to suit every hair type and they last for ages. #GiveUptheBottle is the brand mantra of this incredible homegrown business that aims to do its part to rid the world of the harmful waste plastic bottles cause. So far the company has prevented eight million bottles from entering landfill. All the Ethique products use biodegradable, sustainably harvested ingredients and packaging, are cruelty and palm oil free and are made in New Zealand. Of course the big question is, ‘do these hair bars do the trick?’ Will you be giving the gift of glorious healthy looking hair and luscious locks when you add these to your Santa sack? The answer from my experience is yes! Shiny luscious and healthy tresses need not come at the cost of the environment so this is a gift that could change behaviours, save the planet, and make every day a good hair day. Josie, store manager at Shut the Front Door, Ponsonby has another sustainable giving suggestion that is beautiful, affordable and
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Sustainable gifts from Shut The Front Door, Ponsonby www.shutthefrontdoor.co.nz
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)
