SIX WAYS YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE PLANET THIS CHRISTMAS

Having an eco-conscious Christmas is a responsible and compassionate way to celebrate the holiday season. By prioritising sustainability in your festivities, you can reduce your carbon footprint, conserve resources, and support a healthier planet. Here, Koh Living founders Tui Cordemans and Nyree Hibberd. share their six top tips to having an eco-conscious Christmas.

1. Eco-friendly gift wrapping: The mountains of wrapping paper on Christmas Day are usually just thrown away after the excitement of gift giving.

Instead, wrap gifts in unique ways to minimise wastage. Tea towels and other fabrics look great and are 100 per cent re-usable.

Other options include recycled wrapping paper made from post-consumer materials. DIY wrapping with plain paper, decorated by hand, adds a personal touch and reduces waste.

2. Natural or sustainable gift tags: To decorate a gift with options other than store-bought gift tags, think creatively and use natural accents like twine and dried flowers.

These not only look beautiful but are biodegradable.

3. Eco-friendly Christmas meals: We all love an amazing festive feast but food waste is a massive problem during the holiday season.

To combat food waste and minimise your environmental footprint, consider composting your leftovers or setting up a worm farm for your organic waste year-round.

By doing so, you’ll be contributing to nutrient-rich soil, reducing the amount of waste in landfills and promoting a more sustainable holiday season.

4. Local and organic Christmas foods: One effective way to reduce the environmental impact of your Christmas feast is to choose local and organic foods.

By supporting local farmers and opting for organic produce, you help reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation and the use of pesticides.

5. Say goodbye to disposable plastics: Ditch disposable plastic cutlery and napkins in favour of reusable cloth and washable plates.

Single-use plastics are a major contributor to pollution and waste, and by making the switch to reusable products, you’ll significantly decrease the environmental burden of your Christmas meal.

Not only is this a more eco-friendly choice, but it also adds an elegant touch to your festive table settings.

6. Responsible recycling for the festive period: When the Christmas festivities end, ensure you recycle decorations made from paper, glass or natural fibres.

Remember that certain types of plastic can also be recycled. Check with your local council for Christmas tree recycling programs.