Christmas is a time filled with fun, food, family and festivities but it is also a time where our waste footprint increases significantly.

A 2023 survey by the Australian Institute reported that in Australia alone the total cost of unwanted gifts reached $921million and produced 275,000 tonnes in waste, with around 45% of people not considering the "end of life" or how the products would be disposed of during purchasing.

Decorations & Festive items this year are estimated to total $66.8 billion, an increase on last year despite the cost of living crisis and 5 million tonnes of food will end up in the bin.

I have to admit, when I read those stats I was pretty astounded but I am a firm believer in small, changes making a difference, however imperfect they may be. I would love to share with you some practical tips to reduce your waste mindfully this festive season.

1. REDUCE FOOD WASTE

• Plan your menu and write a list to stop over purchasing store "bargains".
• Use this nifty portion calculator from Love Food, Hate Waste, to avoid over purchasing food.
• Avoid purchasing food for the following days. Chances are you will have plenty of leftovers to see you through.
• Shop seasonal and local. You’ll be supporting your community and avoid extra food miles & the fuel etc that comes with it.
• Don't forget your reusable produce bags when heading to the shops or purchase nude and loose produce where you can. Farmers and smaller markets are a great place for this. 
• Store food well – Storing food well has a significant impact of reducing food waste.
• Washing and store produce well will keep your veggies crisp for longer. For example,
• Wash hard skinned produce prior to storage and soft skinned just before use. Damaging the skin of soft produce will see it spoil quicker.  Add berries to the “wash just before serving” list as they are delicate. 
• Use Beeswax wraps, glass containers or repurpose jars over storing in plastic. Plastic makes food sweat so it can perish sooner. 
• Check out my 5 R’s for Reducing Food Waste for more info or take a deep dive with our well-loved Diverting Kitchen Waste Ebook or pop over to the gram for some of our favourite veggie saving hacks.
• Avoid overloading your fridge and drop the temp a few degrees to compensate when well stocked.
• Ask guests to bring a dish to help ease the load and containers to take leftovers home in. 
• Freeze leftovers in meal sized portions. This is a great time and energy saver further down the track and so handy having meals on hand for days when you are out of energy.
• Donate any sealed safe and leftover food to places like Oz Harvest or Food Bank Australia.

2. GIFT MINDFULLY

• Consider what you are gifting. How would it be disposed of, what is its end of life & what sort of packaging does it come in?
• Support your community, shop small and local. A small business will celebrate your purchase while a corporation will barely notice it.
• Normalise homemade, thrifted, baked, and hand created goods. These are always some of my favourite gifts to give and receive. Check out some simple DIY skincare & food for inspo.
• Regift and rehome items you won't use
• Choose experiences like movie tickets, vouchers, workshops and outings.
• Consider donating to your giftee's Favorite charity or asking what they might like or need.
• Purchase less in general and consider the "5 Gift rule" for loved ones, especially children.

3. WRAP WELL

• Use recycled paper where possible to wrap. Decorate it to add your own personal touches using natural strings and found items like native leaves or seed pods. Get the kids to decorate the paper to make it extra special.
• Avoid metallic and shiny paper is it is unable to be recycled.
• Use fabric or sheets to wrap large items.
• Use a reusable Santa sack or pillow slip for kids’ gifts.

4. EARTH FRIENDLY DECORATIONS

• 6 million trees are said to be discarded every year so its a great idea to consider an alternative to a cut tree.
• Purchase a tree that you can reuse or replant.
• Look for thrifted Xmas trees.
• Handmade decorations like salt or air-dry clay. Foraged pinecones and seed pods are beautiful to decorate. You can add a few drops of essential oils to gently scent your house.
• If you do choose a cut tree see if your council has a recycling program or consider using a mulcher to make wood chips for your garden. Look into your local "Library of Things" to borrow a mulcher if you don't own one.

5. SELF CARE

• While not in the Low waste category per se,  your wellbeing is just as important at this time of year as beautiful gifting or hosting a lovely event.
• Pare back what you do. This is a big one for me as I love doing "all the things" Have a list of "must's and maybes" takes the pressure off. If you complete the "musts" and see if you have the time and energy to look at a few "maybes".
• Ensure you take time out for yourself. A short walk in nature or 5 minutes of belly breathing will keep you calm & your nervous system in check. Our CALM sleep spray is a lovely one to spritz around to shift the mood.
• Ask for help with events. The old saying "many hands make light work" and asking guests to bring a dish, snacks or dessert is a simple way to ease your work load. 

So enjoy the season & have fun exploring alternatives. You might not manage to be sustainable in every area hence my philosophy of "Imperfect Low Waste". Go with what feels right for you. Be mindful of the energy & resources you have available to you and celebrate your Imperfect Low Waste wins! 

Yours in nourishment

Sarah x