Have a Green Christmas

Christmas is the time of year when we busy ourselves consuming – I’m not talking about the office party but rather handing the plastic over during a mad dash to the shopping centre to get everyone a gift to open on the big day.

Stop for a moment... of the $50 billion that is spent by Australians on gifts around Christmas, approximately $700 million is expected to go to landfill by the following February.

It is very easy to get swept up in the festive season, but can you remember any of the presents you received last year?

Ask yourself if the person really needs what you are going to buy them, or is there something else more sustainable, more useful that you could buy them.

For a start, look for items with less packaging, like a ‘service’. Services have a much lower footprint as you’re not buying something that’s been processed, manufactured and transported to the shops - like a voucher for a massage, a music lesson, to learn a language or gym membership. Think of something that lasts all year, like an annual subscription to a newspaper, magazine or car share scheme.

Maybe a new commuter bicycle to start 2011 on the right foot... or pedal.

This approach is a little harder for kids, I don’t mean the commuter bike (though what kid doesn’t like bikes?), but rather think about better quality items that will last the test of time, keep them active and interested throughout the whole year, not just until Boxing Day.

If you are giving a gift think laterally and be creative about how you present it...  you could wrap it in re-used paper like a section of the newspaper (without pictures works best or a foreign paper), an old map or film posters from the DVD shop, even you kids artwork. In fact the wrapping could actually be another gift like nice organic tea towel.

The Story of Stuff

Still a little unsure? Then before you embark on your Christmas shopping list, take a few minutes to visit The Story of Stuff. This is an excellent website with some illuminating presentations on where the products we buy actually come from.

The Best Gift

To help you on your way to a Green Christmas, ‘A gift that won’t cost the Earth’ is a website from the 3-Councils that provides a range of ‘green’ gift ideas  including a free composting workshop and compost bin; a free cycling and bike maintenance workshop; and organic food hampers provided by local food suppliers.

To be different this year, give long-lasting presents that will be remembered and used in the future, and most importantly, to help save the environment, visit www.thebestgift.com.au today.

Wishing you a safe and happy festive season.

If you have an everyday sustainable story to tell, email 400 words and a photo to info@reduceyourfootprint.com.au - receive a solar battery charger for every story published.