Below are our suggestions:
- No new wrapping paper – reused paper, gift bags, newspaper and pillow cases are ok
- Think carefully about the presents, only buy things for people they truly need or value & consider giving experiences rather than consumables
- For overseas gifts – arrange to buy local to save transport costs and pollution
- Make presents from recyclable materials
- Re-gifting is totally acceptable
- Christmas food – limited packaging, only buy what we need, buy local produce – next year our resolution is to try and grow most of it in our garden.
- Have a stay-cation – this year instead of travelling on cars and planes we have decided to have a holiday at home supporting our local community
- Car free days – our stay-cation will involve the car being locked in the garage with walking & bike riding the primary mode of transport
Comments
Great to hear that your family is behind having a sustainable Xmas. I am surprised that it hasn't really caught on as a concept yet.
I too have been thinking about a sustainable eco friendly Xmas and how much better for the environment it would be. As a society we seem to have lost touch with the real essence of Xmas which now seems to heavily involve consumerism instead.
For next year my family have agreed that we will adopt the concept of a non present buying Xmas and instead make the gifts. This timeframe will hopefully allow lots of time for planning and being creative. The idea is that we give gifts that we create ourselves rather than buying yet more stuff to fill up our homes. These gifts could be something that we:
-Build, craft, sew, grow, bake, draw, etc;
-Create a voucher for your time for baby sitting, house or car cleaning, gardening etc;
-Regift/pass on - this is ideal for older kids to pass on their toys and clothes to younger siblings.
The benefits are many including saving money (especially if you have a large family to buy for), getting the creative juices going, having fun, teaching children about being thoughtful and creative rather than getting the latest toy or game, and just getting back to the essence of what giving gifts is all about and that it's the thought that counts.
Birthdays in our family can then be used as a special day to look forward to with gifts that perhaps you wouldn't normally buy for yourself or things that you really need or want. This will differentiate birthdays further from Xmas day too.
Anyway sounds good in theory but I guess we will just have to see how it unfolds next Xmas.
Any other ideas from others?
Tania
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