10 ways on how to strive for a Plastic Free Christmas

10 ways on how to strive for a Plastic Free Christmas

I know. We hate the excess of packaging too and especially when it comes in the form of non-degradable plastic. That’s why all of our packaging used to create, ship and protect our items at Luna & Rose is done to the absolute minimum and is completely sustainable and biodegradable. But we know that not all brands and businesses have a heart for the Earth like we do! While stores are getting much better at asking if you want a bag with that and changing their bags from plastic to be biodegradable or paper… its still all just waste at the end of the day right? So the best thing that we can do to avoid all this waste in the first place? Avoid taking it in the first place! Easier said than done, we have some simple tips that you can help implement during your Christmas Shopping. Here goes…

1. Shop at your local Op Shops. From Puzzles to cute glasses to scarves, there really is something for everything. Sceptical? How about picking up an item of clothing and creating something with the fabric? Re-covering an old chair with some fun fabric? Op Shop's often have the coolest most interesting selection of furnishing fabrics. Need Jars to pop your Christmas cookies inside? Granny love Puzzling? Op Shop's really do have it all...
2. Heading to the mall? Make a pact to say no to any bags, ask for a receipt to be emailed if possible and wrap your own gifts at home (see below!)
3. Don’t purchase wrapping paper, draw on old paper and wrap all your presents with it. It could be brown paper, newspaper or used baking paper… get creative and use whats on hand. I also love using old scrap fabric, Japanese style and wrapping presents with this. They look so cute tied up and the fabric continues on with a new owner for yet another use!
4. Ordering online? Leave a note in the comments section to ship your items without plastic or limited packaging.
5. Take your own Tote Bag whenever you leave the house. You literally never know when you might need it! Heading to the mall to pick up some gifts? Beers? Take out lunch? Friend wants to give you some Lemons from her tree? Having a tote bag on hand, even at the bottom of your main handbag will prevent the need for a single use option. (We just launched some super cute Tote Bags that you can check out HERE)
6. Get baking! Christmas is a time of socializing so instead of heading to the supermarket and purchasing all the pretty things that are often packaged in plastic, head to the refillery to get your grains, nuts, seeds and spices and get baking / cooking! Oh and it will taste so much more special too! Check out this delicious Spiced Nut Recipe we recently posted
7. Plant some seeds and gift them over the years. Each year you could gift a new herb or flower, possible even your own fruit & vegetables too!
8. Make a list of presents assigned to each person before you hit the shops. This will help you avoid impulse buys, and instead make thoughtful choices
9. Consider whether the recipient will treasure their gift or end up throwing it away. I often like to use the 'Cost per wear' guideline too. ie. Would this gift get used so much that the Cost per use or Cost per wear was below $1?
10. For party food leftovers, use beeswax wraps or glass containers, or ask guests to bring their own reusable containers.

Christmas and the festive season is such a busy time with lots of entertaining, gifting and eating. Hopefully you will be able to take away and implement a few of the ideas listed above and strive for a Plastic-Free festive time and help educate a few fellow friends and family members along your journey! 

Start early and implement some of the above now (Like writing your detailed Christmas List, getting your tote bags ready & heading to the op-Shop for Jars) and you can have a reduced-plastic Christmas with the same amount of (or even more) style and fun!

Merry Festive season friends x