5 ways to have zero waste Christmas
As the fragrance of mulled wine fills the air,
Familiar colours decorate the streets and malls.
A season favourite to give and to share,
Christmas is truly a joyous time for all.
We cannot believe that Christmas is only 5 days away. Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey have been defrosted for already two weeks and holiday spirits are high.
We want to share with you ways on celebrating Christmas that keep in line with our zero waste philosophy. As we have mentioned, Christmas is one of the most wasteful period of the year. And we are here to tell you there are solutions to celebrate without any environmental guilt!
Reuse your Christmas decorations
Although this tip seems obvious, we were surprised to learn that this is not a common practice. We understand that storage is not always available in smaller households (especially in Hong Kong), but think about how much money you would save year on year by not having to shop for new decorations. Be creative with how you store your ornaments. For example, your Christmas lights can be fairy lights in your bedroom when they’re not on the tree (we love a good repurposing option). You can also opt for storage stools that can serve as decor or purchase an under-bed storage organiser. Whichever way works best for you and your home, this is such a bonus if you are too busy to shop for Christmas decorations!
Make your own ornaments
There are many ways to create your own zero-waste ornaments. And why not do so by hosting your own DIY Christmas decorations party and sing along to some holiday classics with friends and/or family? The ideas are endless on what you can create, for example:
Papier-maché your old Christmas baubles to redecorate/repaint them into new looking ones: View here
Make dried orange slices garland: View here
Homemade paper honeycomb Christmas bauble: View here
Christmas scented salt dough garlands: View here
Bake your own edible decorations: View here
There are plenty more ideas on DIY Christmas decorations and we hope the ones we have mentioned will inspire you to think outside the box. Following from the previous tip, if storage is truly limited then perhaps prioritise making your own recyclable, biodegradable or edible decorations that are zero-waste and can be fully disposable in an environmentally-friendly way!
Reusable wrapper to wrap presents
Christmas is undeniably the season of gifting, however gift wrapping generates a high volume of waste. The UK uses 227,000 miles of wrapping paper per year and around 40 million rolls of tape. As conscious as we should be when selecting presents (i.e. avoid plastic packaging, shop local, offer fewer gifts and/or eco-friendly ones, etc.) we should be equally aware of how the presents are wrapped. One of the best way to be zero-waste this Christmas is actually by reducing wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and tape. Here are some of our tips:
Reuse the wrapping paper if it is unwrapped carefully
Invest in reusable fabric gift wrap (for example scarves that can also act as another present, cloth tote bags, leftover fabrics from sewing)
Save your gift boxes/bags and reuse them throughout the year
If you want to purchase new wrapping paper, go for environmentally friendly versions; ensure the dyes and inks are natural, avoid the glittery, foil, laminated papers that cannot be recycled
Skip the cellophane and tinsel that are not recyclable and use tissue paper instead
Repurpose and recycle your candles
We love scented candles because their fragrances can be nostalgic and reminiscent of Christmas traditions. However, how do you dispose the candle holder once the holidays are over and you have a tiny bit of wax left? Firstly, be conscious of the type of candle you purchase. Always try to opt for soy candles with wicks made of natural fibres (cotton/hemp). Not only do they burn longer than the conventional, paraffin wax candles, but they are non-toxic, natural and made from much more sustainable resource. They are also biodegradable, water-soluble and vegan! Another point to consider before purchasing your candle is the container that it comes in. Be wary that tea lights come in plastic and cannot be recycled after it has been burned out. The best solution is to go for candles that come in glass jars or beautiful containers that can be recycled or repurposed into a pretty new home for your plants or a delicate trinket pot for your jewels. Finally, you can also opt to recycle your candles by collecting your re-solidified and left over candle wax: 1) prepare an empty candle container of your choice, 2) melt your old candle wax in a metal saucepan, 3) strain the melted wax before pouring into the empty container with a wick inside, 4) let it cool.
Give a meaningful present
We love present ideas that are zero-waste (i.e. gifting an experience), and we love them even more when they are for a good cause. This year for Christmas, why not give a present that is meaningful and charitable at the same time? Either donate to or sponsor a project at a NGO that represents your special person’s favourite cause. For example, sponsoring an endangered species’ recovery at a rehabilitation centre or donating to a local NGO that aims to actively reduce plastic in our oceans. This will show them just how much you know and love them. You can also make the donation receipt special by creating a beautiful e-card.
