‍Tis the season to be green!

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‍It’s the most wine-derful time of the year

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What a year it has been, no matter what part of the world you’re reading this from, it has been challenging in so many aspects. So its time to put your feet up, take a break and enjoy being around those you love the most! 

So this year to keep the challenges coming we’re asking you and your family to give thoughtfully this Christmas and keep your Christmas green! Considering we increase our waste by 30% at Christmas time it’s time to make the planet a priority. 

Firstly let’s start with shopping locally then if you like, use some of the following tips. It might be a slight change for you but collectively they can make a big environmental impact. 

Also please excuse the multiple puns I’ve used in this blog, I think silly season has gotten to me already!

Merry consumerism. 

Christmas and consumerism go hand in hand more than any other time of the year. The financial pressure for gifts, lunches and dinners is a foundation of stress that entirely misses the point of Christmas. 

Each year 10 million gifts are given in Australia that are unwanted, that equates to 400 million dollars worth of waste. 

One suggestion is to ask the people you would ordinarily buy for what their wish list is, that way you’re buying something they really want or need. If you don’t like the idea of asking them? How about an e-voucher for something their interested in? (we sell Christmas vouchers also, wink, wink, nudge, nudge). And if all else fails then gift an experience. If Aunty May loves her vino then gift her a wine tour or tasting experience. 

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I’m better at rapping than wrapping!

My pet hate! My goodness the amount of wrapping that Australians use every year at Christmas is  beyond excessive! Australians alone use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper, enough to wrap around the worlds equator four times. 

Switching to a more eco friendly alternative like reused, fabric, repurposed wrapping or natural tags you can help limit the amount of waste being sent to landfill. 
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Some card-tastic ideas.

Gone are the days that we receive Christmas cards (well in my household that is).

I always use recycled swing tags on gifts or send e-cards. For my engagement party (which we now apply to our Christmas cards) we sent out an e-invitation. For every e-card I sent, the company planted a tree for us! Was amazing to get our message across and it was so easy to keep on top of who had accepted and declined via an online system. 

If you still like to receive and give a card then https://1treecards.com is a great option. They plant one tree for every card purchased and give one seed token to each card bearer to plant flowers for the bees. It’s a win, win for everyone!

Eyes bigger than our bellies!

So Christmas day has come and gone and there is still so much food left over. Over 25% of Christmas food is thrown out, thats 5 million tonnes of food thrown out between Christmas Day and New Years Eve. 

This year make a list of everything you will be baking or cooking before going to the store and find out ahead of time exactly whom you will be shopping for. If you’re not so organised you can also get it catered for and even better ask them to use your own containers from home, everyone will think you have spent all day cooking when its presented in your own Tupperware. 

If you have tried the above and you still have leftovers you can give always send your friends and family home with goodie bags or give them away to your local homeless charity or to some homeless locals near by.

A great charity on the Gold Coast is www.walkwithusgc.org.au, they feed the homeless every week and appreciate all the food they can get to feed those most vulnerable in our community. 

Lastly if you still cant seem to put the leftovers to good use you can freeze them or the following days/weeks and bring them out for when guests arrive, saves the electricity and effort of cooking plus it allows you more time to be present and connect with those are visiting.

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My Christmas tree is the best, and I don’t care if you disa-green!

Oh the feeling of putting up the Christmas tree with family and friends with Christmas carols playing and wine flowing. In my household we have a wooden tree with glass and recycled decorations that we re use every year, the best part is its so easy to put away and store for the following year. 

Most people cannot be bothered with a live Christmas tree so hence the artificial Christmas tree was born. If you’re one of these people that cant or don’t want a live Christmas tree then use one of these ideas as an alternative. 

A mini potted plant is amazing and versatile for after the Christmas period, pop some mini decoration’s on it or clutter some mini potted plants in masons jars as a centre piece and you have served two purposes for the one item. Not only are they decorative and reusable but they also clear the air and improve your quality of air within the home. 

Fairy light tress are fun. Have you got fairy lights at home that you currently use for your balcony or outdoor space? Then mark out the outline of a tree  on your wall (use something that will rub off easily and not ruin your wall paint) and stick the string lights with some eco friendly tape, walahhh!  

Have you got a bit of Birch Twig laying around the backyard or a near by park? A bit of left over twine and decorations and you have your very own DIY Christmas tree that takes about 2 minutes to create. Cheap and eco friendly. 

I love the concept of a Christmas ladder and if I didn’t already have my wooden Christmas tree than this would be my other option. I’ve put an image below so you can see how nice they are actually are because believe me I didn’t like the sound of it but the images from Christmas ladders are stunning!

The possibilities for alternatives is as endless as your imagination, who’s to say a stack of books shaped into a tree isn’t a Christmas tree! Be creative and make your Christmas as unique as you and your loved ones.

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Last thoughts for Christmas!

Christmas can be so special if we focus on what’s really important and additionally make better environmental choices for the planet. 

Looking at what Christmas means for you and your loved ones can also highlight what the meaning of Christmas is about and reinforce more simple ways to connect without consumerism and over indulging. Take the time out and be present and full of joy with those that you choose to have in your heart and home at this special time of year. 

It’s been a different year and joy has come far and few between. So enjoy your Christmas traditions this year but implement some new eco friendly ones that the future generations can enjoy and that the planet will thank you for too.

Merry Christmas, love and light from me to you.

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