I CHOOSE A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE.
TOP 12 TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS. The greatest threat to our planet is the belief
Thank you for choosing a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. There are simple choices and changes we can all make in our daily lives that can help us live more sustainably. But why stop when it comes to the festive season? We ve put together this pocket guide to share with you 12 tips you can adopt this Christmas to celebrate responsibly. Happy holidays from all of us at WWF. that someone else will save it Robert Swan OBE, Explorer and Environmentalist
1 GIFT Shop local, buy ethical, support Australian made. Consider buying someone an experience or an ethical product that supports a local business. For kids, buy something that will last! Or for someone who has everything, a charity gift is a great option.
2 WRAP Wrap with reusable fabric. Scarves, bandannas, fabric offcuts, tea towels teamed with a ribbon make gift wrapping fun and sustainable. It s ok to ask for your wrap back! (Normally wrapping paper gets discarded anyway.)
3 GREET Don t just choose a card for its cover. Choose cards with verified recycled paper content or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Alternatively, e-cards are great for family overseas. Recycle old Christmas cards, or give them to the kids for arts and crafts.
4 SOURCE Buy seasonal, local, sustainable produce. If it s not labelled, ask your supplier where your produce comes from. Shop at local farmers markets. For sustainably caught seafood, look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel. For responsibly farmed seafood, choose products with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) logo.
5 BAG Don t forget to BYO reusable shopping bags. Keeping a supply of reusable shopping bags in the car boot or hung behind the front door serves as a good reminder. Storing a compact sized shopping bag with your portable daily belongings is handy for unplanned purchases.
6 TRAVEL Plan your trip. Planning your trip with a sat nav, as well as removing excess weight in your car helps with fuel efficiency. Explore public transport options before opting to drive.
7 EAT Avoid food wastage. Open only what you need. Make the effort to store leftovers freezing is a great option! Look up recipes that can turn leftovers into other meals. Veggie scraps should go into a compost or worm farm.
8 SERVE Avoid one-use disposable plasticware. Avoid using one-use plastic disposable plates, cups, cutlery and serveware. If it can t be avoided then choose fully biodegradable products.
9 DECORATE Go for durable, ethically-made decorations. Look for durable, ethically-made Christmas decorations that will last for years to come. Or better still, get creative and make your own decorations out of recyclables or materials you already have.
10 LIGHT Switch off when you sleep. Christmas tree lights and outdoor decorative lights don t need to be left on all night, so use a timer or switch off when you go to sleep. If sourcing fairy lights, consider solar options. LED is the next most energy-efficient option.
11 RECYCLE Flatten recyclable packaging. We tend to generate a lot more rubbish during the festive season, so sort your rubbish and flatten recyclable packaging before packing it in your recycling bin. If it doesn t all fit, keep it aside in a box for the next collection. Don t be tempted to just get rid of it in a non-recycling bin.
12 CLEAN Choose biodegradable cleaning products. Whether cleaning before the family comes, or cleaning up after the Christmas meal, choose biodegradable cleaning products to keep our soil and water systems safe.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS SUSTAINABLE. FRONT COVER NATUREPL.COM / ANDREW PARKINSON / WWF 1986 panda symbol WWF WWF is a Registered Trademark All rights remain reserved and images may not be used without permission