EARTH ANGEL

ELEANOR OZICH

Home wellness expert LIVING WELL

There is a middle way to Christmas that doesn’t involve rampant consumerism, or ascetic denial. Here are five simple ways to tread a little more lightly on the planet. Try one

Christmas and consumption go hand-in-hand. It’s a time of year where we spend far too much on throwaway decorations and unnecessary gifts, and often end up with rubbish bins overflowing with plastic and food waste.

The festive season doesn’t have to be a burden on our planet – with a little thought and creativity we can be a wonderful example to our loved ones of how eco-friendly Christmas can be.

Rather than buying into materialism this year, I encourage you to make some small, simple changes that are gentler on the earth, and in many cases, your pocket too. These practical ideas will help you to celebrate the season sustainably, without skimping on all the beautiful festive magic.

1. Change your perception of gift giving

I’d much rather receive a gift that’s small and thoughtful than an overload of items that will probably never be used. There are a few wonderful ways you can offer something unique and tangible, and the first is gifting an experience. This could be in the form of wellness or massage vouchers, movie tickets, or even a hand-drawn card offering a special home-cooked dinner. Some more ideas include garden work or babysitting services. Time is a precious thing you can offer and is always a well-received gift.

If you’d like to buy a physical gift, I encourage you to support local makers and businesses. Many gifts found in-store have been flown half-way around the world to get on the shelves, with the impact of transportation contributing hugely to greenhouse emissions. Local farmers’ markets and artisan homewares stores are a wonderful place to look. I also love that gifts made locally can often come with a story to share with your loved ones.

2. Wrap sustainably

Did you know that most kinds of wrapping paper aren’t recyclable? Why not use this as an opportunity to get creative and wrap your presents using a more natural approach. Furoshiki is a Japanese style of wrapping where the gift is encased in fabric and the corners tied in the middle. You can use secondhand linen fabric to keep costs down, or even a tea towel, scarf or napkin does the trick. Newspaper and brown twine is another eco-friendly option.

3. Cook sustainably

If you’re contributing to or creating the feast this Christmas, I encourage you to use this opportunity to support local growers and artisans. You may even like to create a plant-based menu full of fresh, vibrant flavours. If you’re cooking meat, choose free-range and organic if possible. By focusing on quality over quantity, this can reduce your impact on the environment in many ways.

4. Purchase a potted Christmas tree

If you simply must have a real Christmas tree, look for those that are grown locally. The main thing to note, however, is dispose of it properly. A few options are to turn the tree into mulch for the garden or chop it into firewood for second use.

While artificial trees can be used year after year, they do eventually end up in a landfill and can be made from toxic materials. There are some lovely plywood and wooden Christmas trees available, check out woodenspoons.co.nz or plytree.co.nz for some great alternatives. Another idea is to opt for a potted tree, which you can keep inside, or replant outdoors afterwards.

5. Don’t leave everything to the last minute

My last tip is to get on to your Christmas planning and shopping early. We’ve all experienced that last-minute stress of traipsing around the shops trying to find the perfect gift for someone which so often ends up in unnecessary purchases simply for the sake of getting it done. Taking the time to map out what experiences and gifts you’d like to offer your loved ones early will keep you feeling calm and organised in the lead up to Christmas. This tip isn’t earth-shattering, but friend, it’s one that makes all the difference. eleanorozich.com

ELEANOR OZICH PHOTOGRAPHY

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