Have a Merry green Christmas from the team at savewater!
With the big man in a red suit and his entourage of reindeer only 3 days away, myself and most likely the other 22 million people in Australia are rushing around looking for the perfect gift.
In the lead up to Christmas with the chaos of the shopping centres, remembering family, friends and work KKs, we often forget that we are able to avoid the materialism of Christmas and purchase sustainable gifts that help the environment and those who are less fortunate.
So, if you are like me and would rather give something ‘green’, here are some fantastic ideas for the environmentally conscious gift:
Reusable Water Bottle (No, giving away your old Pump bottle doesn’t count)
Australians spend over $500 million on bottled water every year, which is astounding considering we have some of the best tap water in the world and it costs a fraction of the price. There are some fantastic bottles out there but you must remember to purchase BPA-free bottles so no nasties (Bisphenol A) can leach into your precious water. There are heaps online if you search in Google.
There are a range of affordable BPA-Free Water Bottles available.
Helpful Hampers
Hampers are an old Christmas favourite and its rewarding when you can purchase a great gift for the in laws and donate to charity at the same time. Charity Hampers is a website where you can find a hamper with a charity to match.
Green Goods
Keep an eye out for organic and fair trade goods when picking up the Christmas lunch or Boxing Day treats. This helps reduce the carbon emissions produced when manufacturing and delivery, not to mention those nasty pesticides. By buying fair trade, you can help local sustainability, decent working conditions and ensuring farmers from around the world are supported properly.
Recycled Wrapping (Not Snoop Dog’s latest single)
When purchasing wrapping paper and Christmas cards, think recycled, as there are many attractive options that ensure the trees are safe this festive season. A great website for recycled wrapping paper and sustainable Christmas cards is biome or Earth Greetings and help enable the poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education through WaterAid.
Garden Gifts
Organic food is often expensive, so why not give the gift of food this Christmas and wrap up some seeds or plants for a bountiful balcony or producing porch. Will not only help with the shopping bill, but growing and eating your own food is a gift that can last all year.
Stocking Stuffers
There are plenty of great ‘green’ stocking stuffers including:
- Recycled paper playing cards
- Shower timer to help reduce water use
- Eco Yoga Mat
- Home-made organic cookies
- Eco-candles
- Green Soaps
For someone who you think has everything…..why not buy them a goat?! Not because they want one in their backyard, but for someone in need. Tear Australia allow you to purchase useful gifts to pass on that feel good feeling.
Have you got any green Christmas ideas? We would love to hear them. Merry Christmas!
