Kiddipedia
The holiday season is fast approaching, bringing with it all the magic and nostalgia of Christmas decorations—and, unfortunately, a lot of waste. December is the most wasteful month of the year, with an estimated 50% increase in landfill waste due to excess food, packaging, and gift wrapping. To help you celebrate without contributing to this waste, here are some helpful tips for a more sustainable Christmas.
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Sustainable Decorations
The first step towards a greener Christmas is rethinking your decorations. Unpack what you already have and reuse it! There’s nothing wrong with reusing decorations; in fact, it’s the best thing you can do. Plastic baubles and artificial trees can take hundreds of years to decompose, so the longer you can use them, the better. By making the most of what you have, you’re reducing the demand for new products and cutting down on waste.
If you’re looking to refresh your decor, consider natural and biodegradable options. For instance, you can create beautiful ornaments from twigs, dried oranges, pine cones, or even cinnamon sticks. Or consider swapping out tinsel for more eco-friendly alternatives like paper chains made from recycled paper or popcorn garlands. These are not only cheap and easy to find and make but also return to the earth without harm when you’re done with them. Involving the kids in crafting these sustainable decorations can also become a fun holiday tradition.
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Conscious Gifting
The holiday season is often synonymous with gift-giving, but it doesn’t have to mean contributing to the cycle of consumerism and waste. One way to ensure your gifts are both meaningful and sustainable is to focus on experiences rather than material items. Whether it’s a day out at the zoo, a cooking class, or a family membership to a local museum, gifting experiences can create lasting memories without the need for wrapping paper or packaging.
For those who prefer to give physical gifts, consider sustainable options like handmade items, locally produced goods, or eco-friendly products. For children, a circular toy subscription can be a perfect gift that keeps on giving. Instead of cluttering homes with toys that may be quickly outgrown or forgotten, companies like Green Leaf Toys offer a subscription service that allows kids to play with a wide variety of toys and return them when they’re done. This not only reduces waste but also keeps playtime fresh and exciting.
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Eco-Friendly Wrapping
Gift wrapping is often one of the biggest sources of waste during the holiday season. Most wrapping paper, especially the shiny or glittery kind, isn’t recyclable and ends up in the landfill. However, with a bit of creativity, you can wrap your gifts in a way that’s both beautiful and sustainable.
One of the easiest ways to avoid waste is to use fabric as gift wrap. Items like old scarves, pillowcases, or fabric bags that often come with purchases can be repurposed into beautiful, reusable gift wraps. The Japanese art of Furoshiki, which involves wrapping gifts in cloth, is a stylish and sustainable alternative to traditional wrapping paper. Not only does this method eliminate waste, but the fabric can also be reused by the recipient, adding an extra layer of thoughtfulness to your gift.
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Sustainable Holiday Activities
In Australia, Christmas often means sunshine and outdoor celebrations, making it the perfect time to engage in eco-friendly activities with family and friends. One great tradition to start is a Christmas beach cleanup. It’s a fantastic way to give back to the community and the environment while spending quality time together. Teaching kids to be active participants in protecting our planet can instil lifelong values of environmental stewardship.
Other sustainable holiday activities can include baking homemade treats. You can also get creative with DIY gifts and ornaments, using materials like salt dough, recycled paper, or even old Christmas cards. These activities are not only fun but also provide a hands-on way to reduce waste and create lasting memories.
Being sustainable is an everyday effort, and the holiday season is a perfect opportunity to double down on those efforts. By making mindful choices, you can enjoy a festive season that’s full of joy and meaning without the environmental impact. Whether it’s reusing decorations, choosing thoughtful gifts, or engaging in eco-friendly activities, every small step adds up. In doing so, you’ll create beautiful memories while teaching the next generation the importance of looking after our planet.
Larissa Tedesco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenleaf.toys
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenleaftoys.au/
Larissa has dedicated the past decade to promoting sustainability, both as a content creator and a passionate advocate. She began her journey as a blogger at Eat Yourself Green on Instagram, where she shares tips and insights on living an eco-friendly lifestyle. In 2018, she co-founded Plastic Free Gold Coast, a community-based organisation focused on reducing plastic waste through events, panels, educational workshops, markets, and clothes swaps.
The birth of her daughter further fueled her passion for sustainability, inspiring her to seek alternatives to the plastic-filled toy industry. This led to the creation of Green Leaf Toys, a company dedicated to offering eco-friendly and sustainable toys. Larissa’s approach to business emphasises creating the least possible harm, focusing on the lifecycle of products and packaging.
Outside of work, Larissa loves spending time with her family and enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly at the beach on the Gold Coast, where they live.
