The holidays are a time of cherished memories and relaxation, and it’s easy to be wasteful and ignore eco-friendly social practices that keep us on a sustainable path. Committing to a sustainable way of living does not need to be difficult. If you take the time to plan ahead and think creatively, it can be achieved. We are excited to share a few principles and tips you can keep during your festive season to be environmentally responsible for yourself and your community.
Thrift, Rent, or Make Gifts this Season.
Thrifting gifts or clothes for Christmas and seasonal events instead of buying a non-eco-friendly gift that may otherwise be unappreciated or non-personalised can be a fun outing for you during your holidays. It can also lead to finding the perfect present you couldn’t find anywhere else (Figure 1).
For more formal events, rent an appropriate dress or suit. Purchasing a formal piece of clothing when you’re unlikely to wear it regularly wastes the clothing and does not ensure future use.
Online marketplaces similar to Depop and eBay allow you to make purchases in the same medium as fast fashion (Robin, 2024). They also allow you to sell products so you don’t waste what someone else could admire.
Avoid fast fashion, a modern shift in production within the fashion industry, which prioritises large amounts of low-quality products with minor shelf life and minimal financial cost. The production of garments in this model has a staggering impact on the environment, costing enormous amounts of water, waste and emissions. (Niinimaki, et al., 2020). When making online purchases, it is wise to be critical of the company’s practices and garment quality to spot fast fashion practices.
Commit to a More Ecotourism Friendly holiday.
Going on holiday during the festive season is ordinary and on the rise with the removal of travel restrictions (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2024). However, international and local trips can be wasteful and unsustainable, e.g., long flights or driving times and personal preconceived ideas of sustainable behaviour (Caffyn, 2012). A large portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the rise in tourism, particularly the rise of fast-paced moving between holiday destinations, which is antithetical to modern eco-friendly virtues (Dickinson, Robbins, & Lumsdon, 2010). When you decide to spend your holidays away from your home, plan your trip to be environmentally healthier.
Eco–friendly tourism falls under the umbrella of slow tourism. Contemporary styles of tourism emit large amounts of varied types of pollution, so slow tourism chooses more nature-based trips and slower means of travel to avoid more significant emissions and let you enjoy the actual travelling portion of your holiday (Moira, Mylonopoulos, & Kondoudaki, 2017).Tactics and techniques to achieve that can include identifying the local culture’s accepted environmental expectations and supporting local availability. Try carpooling if you’re taking a road trip with friends or family. Use public transport wherever you find yourself, and take the time to support local businesses or available resources (Figure 2).
Pre-plan your Food Purchases and Storage.
Food waste is already a prolific and common environmental issue, and all year-round food tends to go to waste, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and costing Australia billions (Foodbank Australia, 2024). During the holiday season, even the most dedicated environmentalists will struggle not to waste enormous amounts of food. Large amounts go to waste, in large part due to a lack of pre-thought and storage for perishable products (Love, 2021).
Before going to the big Christmas shop, take inventory and see what ingredients you already have that could be substituted for food items on your list. To prepare for leftovers, clean out your fridge and freezer to make room, research and understand proper storage, heating, reheating and defrosting procedures for the types of food you’re going to use (Australian Institute of Food Safety, 2021).
Utilising the First in, First Out (FIFO) method used in modern kitchens is a great way to use your leftovers and ingredients effectively. By correctly dating, storing and using the first items that enter your fridge, you will be equipped for proper food preparation and safety (Australian Institute of Food Safety, 2020). You can safely use leftovers without getting anyone sick while not letting perishable food products go to waste after your festivities (Figure 3).
Make your Events a Greener Environment.
It’s not easy to host holiday parties, but it can also be an excellent opportunity to encourage friends and family to adopt an eco-friendly mindset.
A large majority of people you meet desire a more eco–friendly atmosphere in their lives and would have greater intentions to do so (Carrus, Passafaro, & Bonnes, 2008). For many people in their day-to-day lives, there tends to be social and knowledge-based barriers to entry for recycling and living a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle (Whitemarsh, Haggar, & Thomas, 2018). Past techniques we have discussed are critical examples of personal changes you can apply and show your friends. Giving people the right environment can be necessary for them to change their environmental principles.
Attempts that over-educate your peers with environmental sustainability knowledge has been shown to not encourage them in their public and private lives, instead, you should intervene and give people the necessary facilities to influence independent impact (Hopper & Nielsen, 1991). In a healthy, friendly environment, your guests can understand how straightforward sustainable living can be.
For example, replacing a single large bin where all rubbish goes at your events with separate bins for general waste and recyclables. If you want to go the extra mile, have signs by your waste disposal to demonstrate which piece of trash goes in what bin. Refrain from sending Christmas/festive invitation cards since electronic invites are easier to manage and more accessible for people. Try to get reusable cutlery and cups, or alternatively, substitute paper products for more eco-friendly alternatives. Perhaps you and your guests could make environmentally sustainable, themed and personal Christmas party hats.
If you are looking for entertainment, try to get your hands on environmentally sustainable party/board games such as Earthborne Rangers or the Robert Frederick ranges or build your own if you feel like flexing your creative muscles (Figure 4).
We hope you all have happy holidays here at ISPL. We will be closed from the afternoon of December 20th to January 6th.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024, August 15). Number of Aussies travelling overseas reaches pre – COVID levels. Retrieved from abs.gov.au: https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/number-aussies-travelling-overseas-reaches-pre-covid-levels
Australian Institute of Food Safety. (2020, June 24). 4 Steps to Effective Restaurant Inventory Management. Retrieved from Australian Institute of Food Safety: https://blog.foodsafety.com.au/4-steps-restaurant-inventory-management
Australian Institute of Food Safety. (2021, December 3). Reduce Holiday Food Waste with These 5 Tips. Retrieved from Australian Institute of Food Safety: https://blog.foodsafety.com.au/reduce-holiday-food-waste-5-tips
Caffyn, A. (2012). Advocating and implementing Slow Tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 77 – 80.
Carrus, G., Passafaro, P., & Bonnes, M. (2008). Emotions, habits and rational choices in ecological behaviours: The case of recycling and use of public transportation. Journal of environmental psychology, 51-62.
Dickinson, J. E., Robbins, D., & Lumsdon, L. (2010). Holiday travel discourses and climate change. Journal of Transport Geography, 482 – 489.
Foodbank Australia. (2024, November). Food waste in Australia. Retrieved from foodbank.org.au: https://www.foodbank.org.au/food-waste-facts-in-australia/?state=vic
Gbor, N., & Walters, B. (2023, November 30). Christmas Waste 2023. Retrieved from The Australia Institue: https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/christmas-waste-2023/
Hopper, J. R., & Nielsen, J. M. (1991). Recycling as Altruistic Behavior: Normative and Behavioral Strategies to Expand Participation in a Community Recycling Program. Environmental and behavior, 195 – 220.
Love, E. (2021, December 23). How to waste less this Christmas. Retrieved from resource.co: https://resource.co/article/how-waste-less-christmas
Moira, P., Mylonopoulos, D., & Kondoudaki, A. (2017). The Application of Slow Movement to Tourism: Is Slow Tourism a New Paradigm? Journal of Tourism and Leisure Studies.
Niinimaki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 189 – 200.
Robin, L. (2024). Break the cycle of fast fashion. Retrieved from Clean Up Australia: https://www.cleanup.org.au/thrifting-online
Whitemarsh, L. E., Haggar, P., & Thomas, M. (2018). Waste Reduction Behaviours at Home, at Work, and on Holiday: What Influences Behavioral Consistency Across Contexts? Frontier Psychology.