Evie Kenny, who hosts the RTÉjr Podcast Ecolution, gives us some top tips on how to make the festive season a bit more sustainable...
1. I don't know about you but every Christmas I receive at least one present that I most likely will not put to use. So, this Christmas, why not give your friends and loved ones an experience?! Bring them for a New Year swim or a sunrise picnic beside nature. I can assure you that they will appreciate this much more than something they will never use. Give the gift of a memory.
2. Now a tip for you crafty bunch out there, why not DIY your Christmas! This is much much cheaper and a ton of fun to make and bake your presents. You can use online recipes and your own art knowledge to craft a gift nobody will forget. Some examples are Christmas themed bakes, homemade snow globes (with sustainable glitter of course!), hot chocolate mugs etc.
3. During the year I'm sure most of us have an accumulation of paper bags and other recyclable materials, why not use these items as homemade wrapping paper for those presents you made!
4. Christmas is probably one of the best opportunities to bring you and your neighbours or community together. Try organizing a food share to reduce food waste after family dinners, a regifting opportunity to people looking for kids' toys, old jumpers etc. Use this season of giving to the most!
5. Christmas is also a great time for you to try new things such as beach cleans! Take time before or during the new year to go to a local beach and pick up at least 10 pieces of rubbish and I assure you, you will feel much better afterwards, and then next time you might pick up 20 pieces and then 30 and so on and on.
Subscribe to Ecolution here or wherever you get your podcasts!
