08 Dec Rethinking Christmas
Christmas is here, and with it all the extra preparations, events and gift exchanges, and that means more to do and more to clean up. Many people find the holidays somewhat daunting and don’t look forward to it like they used to. This year, let’s consider something different. Instead of aiming for a perfect Christmas, let’s shoot for a circular one — a season that rethinks, reuses, and gives back. A lot less pressure, and a little more connection. Here’s what we’re thinking.
Let’s start by addressing at all the extra packaging and garbage. How we can curb the excess, and effectively handle what’s left.
Set up a small “Circular Recycling Corner” in your home — a visible reminder that recycling isn’t just a chore, it’s an integral part of the celebrations.
Label each receptacle:
1. Curb-side Recycling – paper & hard plastics
2. Returnables – mixed ready to drink cans & glass
3. Clean Soft Plastic – crinkle & soft together
4. Miscellaneous – broken electronics, christmas lights, light bulbs, batteries etc
5. Styrofoam – not peanut chips (Duncan’s depot only please)
6. Donations – food bank and charity shop items
Recycling as you go will make clean up at the end of the season a breeze, and ensures these materials can be given the opportunity to be cycled back into the system to be repurposed. This helps reduce our societies heavy reliance on new raw materials, while keeping reusable materials out of the landfill.
Next, let’s look at our choices around gifts and wrapping. Reconsidering our consumption tendencies makes space to ponder the deeper meaning of the holidays. What’s really important? Could it be tapping into your creative side? Do you enjoy making gifts and decorations? How about simplifying the holiday, and spending more time together?
Remember when Christmas used to have a lot more hand made gifts? Gathering together to craft, kept the social connections front and centre, which was fun and nourishing. Crafting also helps us to include sustainability in the agenda. Doing so will positively reduce all the typical Christmas packaging, plus lessen our carbon footprint.
Here are a few more ideas for a Circular Christmas:
1. Make some of your gifts. Naturally scented bath salts, macrame or leather keys chains, bunting made from fabric remnants or pretty papers, and my favourite are folded paper stars, strung with gorgeous ribbon. A search on Pinterest will generate many easy and tasteful ideas.
2. Give edible gifts and present them in reusable jars and tins. Many of us have our specialty food we love to make, from pickles to crackers, tea blends or jams…you get the idea. Dress them up with some pretty string, homemade tags and wild harvested sprigs.
3. Think about giving gifts that are activity oriented, that you can do together, such as concert tickets, weekend getaways, restaurant vouchers, spa services to name a few.
4. Have fun wrapping gifts using old maps, calendars or brown craft paper, and embellish them with stamping, seasonal messages and pretty ribbons. Consider using fabric to wrap a gift, which can then be reused. Sewing simple fabric bags with draw strings make for a great option. Explore your local thrift shops and stores for scarves, tea towels or funky pillow cases you can repurpose.
5. Donate to a charity as part of the family tradition. Sharing our abundance with those less fortunate is a wonderful way to give back in our local communities.
Rethinking the holidays will stimulate conversations and help establish new traditions. Involve the kids and make new memories together. Redefining the purpose of the holidays is about remembering it doesn’t have to be so much about buying things, as it is about spending quality time together. With a little bit of forethought, we can tame the hectic and expensive version of Christmas, and lean into a holiday that is simpler, creative, reuses and gives back.
From all of us at Island Return It, have a peaceful and joyful holiday season.