Changing Christmas waste to help Mother Earth.

Rainbow lorikeet eating gum blossums. To symbolise colour and nature at Christmas in Australia

Last week our family eventually finalised plans for Christmas!  (Then changed them again today, but that’s a different story!)

One side of the family will be a small handmade gift to the household. The other side is a re-gifting exercise where the only rule is that you must already own the object you are gifting. The gift can be repurposed if wanted.

Why on earth am I sharing this on a mostly medical website?

Because our health depends on the health of the planet. Anything we can do to help Mother Earth, will benefit us in the long run.  Endorphins created by making and crafting items, using excess veg to make preserves, or clearing out your belongings, last far longer than the trip to an overcrowded shopping centre, or hours in front of a computer screen choosing gifts. And honestly, I simply care about the environment and believe we can all make a difference, no matter how small. I am keen to spread this message where I can, as I have been quiet in the past and done my own thing in the background. Way back in 1990, I did a school geography project on recycling, and often I think that not much has changed over the last 30 years. We still buy too much, then get overwhelmed by recycling ideas and just end up either stuffing it all in the bin or trying to recycle stuff we can’t. This can mean whole truckloads of paper end up in the bin instead. And when I say ‘we’, I am including myself, as I still have a long way to go!

 So, what are some practical things we can do? If not for this Christmas, as I’m sure most people were organised months ago, then what can we do in preparation for next year?

 

The Issues

Wrapping Paper and Gift bags

 We all love shiny sparkly Christmas colours and big bows on presents. BUT most of these are not recyclable. Anything that has a furry texture or is shimmery, glittery or shiny needs to go into the normal bin, it just can’t be recycled. Then we have the volume that we use. Australians use 150,000km of wrapping paper at Christmas each year. Enough to wrap around the equator 4 times! That number doesn’t even include the gift bags we use. Most of which are shiny and have polyester handles, so can’t be recycled.

Ribbons and Bows

Usually made of polyester or plastic, so make sure to keep them separate – either for the bin or even better, to recycle next year.

Cards

These can sometimes be recycled and sometimes can’t. Again, shiny cards and photo cards need to go into the bin, but plain paper ones are OK for the recycling.

The Thoughts

Feeling depressed that everything will look drab and boring? Try thinking of it like a modern house, lots of neutral tones with pops of colour. Just a different look to the shagpile carpets and swirly wallpaper.Still not feeling it will be the same? It probably won’t, but then who wants to be stuck back last century believing that eating warm ham and turkey on a summer’s day, was the only option for Christmas? Change doesn’t have to be bad, it is just different.

 

The Alternatives?

Wrapping

Want colour? If you have kids then use some of their paintings as gift wrap. Did you sneak them into the bin when they werren’t looking? Next time tell them they’re in the present box and they can choose who gets their gift wrapped in them. You could even mail them all to Santa to use!Or use brown paper and do your own artwork, either now or throughout the year. I am often telling people to add creativity in their life, and this is one area that has a purpose, so give it a go! Or simply keep this year’s paper and use it again. Have a competition to see who can unwrap their gift the most neatly. Like watching your own unboxing video, oohh the anticipation. And I promise you, flattened neatly and stacked, they don’t really take up that much room. Stick them under the towels to keep them squashed, and when you have a few, start to be picky and toss them (into the right bin) then!

Furoshiki is a Japanese idea where gifts are wrapped in beautiful cloths and become part of the gift. When you google options for this, the cost is staggering. However, making your own is a great alternative. You can cut up old sheets or clothes or head to the local op-shop to buy a scarf or tea towel to do the same thing. Keep the material as a sheet and try the pretty furoshiki wrapping or make a gift bag. Plenty of colour options are available and the fabric can be reused and regifted almost indefinitely. As a bonus, if you buy from an op shop generally you are benefiting the community not a massive multinational company.

Can’t be bothered with that? Then buy recycled plain paper and go collecting gumnuts or pine cones and use them as decorations.

Ribbons and Bows

Out of recycled and repurposed ribbons and bows? Raffia and cotton or hemp string can break down and they add some colour.

Cards

I know some people like to keep cards as mementos. My mother-in-law has kept heaps and is now re-gifting them 20 + years later which is quite fun. Not keen on keeping your cards for 40 years? Then just keep them for 12 months and cut them into gift tags before you stash them away. Or if the local kindy accepts them, donate the shiny ones, with writing cut off, for collage. At least they get one more use before being placed in the bin. Just make sure next time you buy cards, they are recycled or able to be recycled, so that your gifts can keep giving and not end up as landfill.

Talking of avoiding landfill, I’m really excited to see what comes up in our Christmas re-gifting gathering. Though perhaps my 16-year-old nephew was not so keen to draw my name?

 

So, what else can we do to make this Christmas more sustainable?

Well according to research Australians literally, throw away tonnes of food at Christmas. So make some room in your freezer for leftovers. Search the internet for recipes using said leftovers – there are heaps!

And try not to buy too much to start with! We are there to share the meal not just stuff ourselves to excess.

Gift wise, let’s be sensible. My uncle passed away last year aged 90 and would recall his childhood where receiving an orange was the highlight of the year. I’m not suggesting we return to this, however, we can gift more sensibly and not break our budget. We can gift experiences, not trash for landfill or we can just enjoy each other’s company. If an orange was a highlight in the last 100 years, where can we take Christmas into the future?

Beyond that, I’d suggest setting up new Christmas traditions, that suit your family and will have a positive effect on generations to come. It’s not too late for change. The sky may no longer be our limit, but Mother Earth needs our care more than ever before.