Have yourself a sustainable Christmas

With the year we have had, most of us will be looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for some, but it is not always the most environmentally friendly. With it comes over consumption in forms of food, gifts and decorations.

Here are a few tips for a more sustainable Christmas without skimping on the festive spirit.

Get yourself a real Christmas tree

Every plastic Christmas tree is destined for landfill. If your plastic tree is nearing its end, give a living tree a go. At the end of its life it can be composted or mulched or better still, one in a pot can be used year after year. For that Christmas feeling, you can’t beat the smell of a pine tree in your home. A local grower is the best and be sure to leave any native trees on roadsides where they belong. Try your local supermarket, hardware store or florist. If they don't supply them they may know someone who does.  Fake or the real thing?

Choose gifts with a sustainable focus

Minimise gifts with Kris Kringle, choose gifts that last, make your own (who doesn’t love shortbread?), give experiences and think of where that gift came from and where it will eventually end up. Ideas for sustainable gifts this Christmas.

Helen’s shortbread recipe(PDF, 431KB)

Set the table with reusable dinnerware

Having lots of guest? Great, that means plenty of dishwashers. Plastic dinnerware can not be recycled in your kerbside bin and will end up in landfill, plus it is horrible to eat with. Charity shops always stock crockery and cutlery if you don’t have enough. And you can always return them when finished.

For more eco-friendly alternatives check out Sustainability Victoria.

Love your leftovers this Christmas

No matter how much we indulge on Christmas Day, there seems to always be leftovers. With a little planning, leftovers can take us through the next few days so we can spend more time relaxing. Here are a few tips:

• Try not to over-cater - don't go overboard with perishable foods. Remember, the supermarkets are only closed for one day.
• Be mindful of how long food is sitting out. Pack food away as soon as possible for it to last.
• Make leftovers into a meal of their own. Leftovers can be added to fritters, toasties, pizzas, pastas, quiche.
• Make plenty of room in your fridge and freezer and ensure you have plenty of containers for storing food.

Decorations made from nature instead of plastic

Decorations made from nature can be composted at their end of life. Decorations made from plastic, such as tinsel and baubles will end up in landfill. If you can't compost your decorations choose to purchase good quality decorations that will last for years to come. 

Some more natural Christmas decorations