Do you have any unique sustainable gift ideas?
Tom- Socks for those who need them or world vision gifts for anyone else. I follow the principle of giving people things they need, or passing on to people the gift of giving others the things that they need.
Gabi- I will be gifting the Manly Botanic Sustainable Coffee soap scrub – handmade with locally sourced used coffee grinds. I am also going to buy the kids solar, wind or water powered toys and gadgets rather than battery powered toys! Try this Festive Season Green guide for more ideas on how to be more sustainable this Christmas.
Lily- I love giving plants as gifts especially edible ones like herbs or a little citrus tree in a pot.
Sarah- Baked goods in recycled jars or jams
Blake- I’m really trying to focus on giving an experience this year not just ‘stuff’. I don’t like to accumulate ‘stuff’ myself, and remembering a trip or just a fun day spent with someone close to me is far better than gifting a landfill destined product.
What will you be doing this Christmas to minimise food waste?
Tom- Popularise the turkey hierarchy. Roast turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, turkey curry, turkey soup, turkey curry, turkey curry, turkey soup and Worcestershire sauce, turkey soup and Tabasco, turkey soup and something very very strong. Come up smiling and ready for Lamingtons on Australia Day!
Gabi- Getting creative in the kitchen with all the left overs try this 1millionwomen website for inspiration and recipe ideas.
Jacqui- For me, minimising food waste is all about finding innovative ways to use leftovers. No one wants to under-cater on Christmas day so its inevitable that there is a bit left over! Practical things that I do to minimise food waste include: allowing people to dress their own salads (undressed salads will last for much longer), freezing leftover ham and turkey for use on sandwiches when the Christmas feasting has died down and allowing everyone to serve themselves from shared plates so that people only take what they need.
Lily- Sharing the food and leftovers with as many friends and family as possible!
Sarah- Leftovers! Ham fritters, ham sandwitches, ham and corn muffins
Blake- With 3 brothers – food waste is never really a problem in our household!
How will you reduce and recycle, up-cycle or down-cycle Christmas packaging waste?
Tom- Avoid products with excess packaging and re-gift!
Gabi- Some ideas that come to mind are to line the cousins guinea pig hatch with wrapping paper instead of straw, Save the ‘still in good nik’ wrapping paper for next year! Purchase local and send empty packaging boxes back to the supplier.
Jacqui- I find the best ways to reduce packaging waste are the simplest ones. Minimise wrapping/packaging to begin with, fold rather than taping wrapping (so that it can be unfolded and reused) and use existing wrapping creatively rather than buying new (for example I love wrapping in material off-cuts).
Lily- I am going to use these sustainable gift wrapping ideas, I also think choosing presents with minimal packaging is key
Sarah- Using toilet rolls to make gorgeous Christmas crackers. Try to make my own wrapping paper using paper I’ve saved up during the year. This year I might use newspaper with some nice ribbon and a splash of greenery.
Blake- I generally like to use newspaper as gift-wrapping – it’s free from your local cafe, a little different, and easily recycled. For a personal touch I also like to have a look for pictures to use on them or write the name of the recipient using cutout letters.
Blake’s last word: As consumers, we are ultimately responsible for the types and quality of products manufactured and sold in our economy. Consider the end of life scenario of gifts before you buy them – Will it need replacement shortly? Can it be recycled? Does it contain composite materials unable to be reused? Christmas is the time to show producers that we shop with a conscience!