How to have a sustainable Christmas
A sustainable Christmas can still be a merry Christmas.
The City of Burnside is always looking to bring you more ways to lessen your carbon footprint, and as we enter the festive season here are our tips to help you stay environmentally conscious this Christmas.
Many of us see Christmas as a time for giving. How often has someone told you 'I really don’t need anything... No really, I don’t need anything’? But we all know you have to get them something!
Giving gifts to long-time family and friends can be difficult – by this point, you’ve given them everything, right? Rather than buying dad socks and jocks for the sixth time, or another knick-knack that will take up space, why not consider trying something different?
With summer here and the weather perfect for getting out and about, why not purchase an experience or a memory that will last a lifetime?
• If you know someone who likes to be pampered, you can purchase gift cards for manicures, pedicures, facials or a spa visit
• For movie buffs, The Regal Theatre on Kensington Road always shows the latest releases
• Classes or short courses can be fun and educational, with local options including one of the many activities available at Pepper Street Arts Centre
• For the foodies in your life, you could consider dinner vouchers, cooking classes or vouchers for wine, beer or spirit tastings. South Australia has some of the best food and wine venues, all within a short drive of Adelaide
• For animal lovers there are many options: Cleland Wildlife Park is right on Burnside’s doorstep and is not far to Adelaide Zoo or Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary. If you are buying a present for someone more adventurous, why not consider Monarto Safari Park or a ferry ride to Kangaroo Island?
• If adventure is the primary objective, consider opportunities like rock climbing, abseiling, or a roof climb at the world-renowned Adelaide Oval
• For the active people in your life, the City of Burnside offers multi-passes to the George Bolton Swimming Centre.
Giving gifts can be rewarding, but some people seem to have everything they need. In these cases, rather than buying something superfluous, why not give a donation? Again, there are options to suit a range of tastes and budgets!
• If you are buying a gift for someone who likes to give to charity, you could consider one of Oxfam’s ‘unwrapped’ gifts; there are a range of prices and the donation can include a card or an e-card
• Planting trees has many environmental benefits and is particularly important in the wake of the rising effects of climate change. Several organisations provide gift certificates to plant trees, including Trees for Life. It can all be organised online or with a phone call.
Not all ways to be sustainable in the festive season relate to gifts themselves - we also need to consider the other Christmas traditions that contribute to unnecessary waste.
• If you are giving a material gift, you can wrap presents in something reusable, rather than generating waste. For example, wrap gifts in a reusable shopping bag or a reusable gift bag. You can also use old newspapers to keep the joy of tearing into presents while minimising waste
• Consider switching your Christmas lights to LEDs. These use less energy and last longer than incandescent lighting
• We can also reduce food waste with a little planning. Carefully considering how much food everyone needs can save both money and waste. And if you do overcook, refrigerate the food in reusable containers and use them as lunches and easy dinners.
• Even with careful planning, you might still have some food scraps. It’s important all food waste goes in the green bin. This action will ensure the food is composted, rather than sent to landfill. Putting food scraps in the green bin saves money and creates jobs in South Australia. Any food scraps you have go in the green bin, including vegetables, fruits, breads and meats - even prawns and seafood can go in the green bin. If you are concerned about the smell, wrap the seafood in a compostable bag (available from Council) and pop it in your freezer until bin day.
You can have your Christmas cake and eat it, too! Consider which ideas will work best for you and implement them to celebrate the Christmas holidays sustainably.
At the City of Burnside we hope you all have a safe and happy (and waste-free) festive season.
