Decorating lightly
By rethinking some traditions, you and your family can lighten your eco-footprint this Christmas.
Decorations
- Don’t go for disposable – keep them to last for years to come.
- Tinsel and trinkets - make your own. Try edible decorations of dried fruit or popcorn on a string. Popular with the kids.
- Decorations with an ethical edge, or made from recycled bottle tops.
- Go recycled. Get some inspiration here and here.
Lights
For Australia, electricity is a major source of environmental impact. This is because about 65% of it comes from fossil fuels.
- Turn off lights when not being viewed.
- Look for products using LEDs instead of traditional bulbs - they last 10 times longer and dramatically reduce power use.
Trees
There are lots of options to the plastic tree (made from PVC - toxic when recycled) or non-native pine which is grown in dense monoculture plantations that require high inputs of chemicals and water.- Try a potted plant, maybe a local native. The Australian Black Pine makes a great Christmas tree. It is drought tolerant, looks good all year round, and doesn’t mind life in a pot.
- Find awesome ideas for mega-creative upcycled tree alternatives here and here
Where are you going, what are you becoming?. “My destination is no longer a place, rather a new way of seeing.” ― Marcel Proust
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