I CHOOSE A

SUSTAINABLE
CHRISTMAS.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE.

TOP 12 TIPS FOR A
MORE SUSTAINABLE
CHRISTMAS.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief

 Thank you for choosing a future in which humans
live in harmony with nature.
There are simple choices and changes we can all
make in our daily lives that can help us live more
sustainably. But why stop when it comes to the
festive season?
We’ve put together this pocket guide to share
with you 12 tips you can adopt this Christmas
to celebrate responsibly.
Happy holidays from all of us at WWF.

that someone else will save it”

Robert Swan OBE, Explorer and Environmentalist
 1

GIFT
RESPONSIBLY
Shop local, buy ethical, support Australian made.
Consider buying someone an experience or an ethical
product that supports a local business. For kids, buy
something that will last! Or for someone who has everything,
a charity gift is a great option.
 2

WRAP
RESPONSIBLY
Wrap with reusable fabric.
Scarves, bandannas, fabric offcuts, tea towels teamed with a
ribbon make gift wrapping fun and sustainable. It’s ok to ask
for your wrap back! (Normally wrapping paper gets discarded
anyway.)
 3

GREET
RESPONSIBLY
Don’t just choose a card for its cover.
Choose cards with verified recycled paper content or Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Alternatively, e-cards
are great for family overseas. Recycle old Christmas cards,
or give them to the kids for arts and crafts.
 4

SOURCE
RESPONSIBLY
Buy seasonal, local, sustainable produce.
If it’s not labelled, ask your supplier where your produce comes
from. Shop at local farmers markets. For sustainably caught
seafood, look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
ecolabel. For responsibly farmed seafood, choose products
with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) logo.
 5

BAG
RESPONSIBLY
Don’t forget to BYO reusable shopping bags.
Keeping a supply of reusable shopping bags in the car boot
or hung behind the front door serves as a good reminder.
Storing a compact sized shopping bag with your portable
daily belongings is handy for unplanned purchases.
 6

TRAVEL
RESPONSIBLY
Plan your trip.
Planning your trip with a sat nav, as well as removing excess
weight in your car helps with fuel efficiency. Explore public
transport options before opting to drive.
 7

EAT
RESPONSIBLY
Avoid food wastage.
Open only what you need. Make the effort to store leftovers
– freezing is a great option! Look up recipes that can turn
leftovers into other meals. Veggie scraps should go into a
compost or worm farm.
 8

SERVE
RESPONSIBLY
Avoid one-use disposable plasticware.
Avoid using one-use plastic disposable plates, cups, cutlery
and serveware. If it can’t be avoided then choose fully
biodegradable products.
 9

DECORATE
RESPONSIBLY
Go for durable, ethically-made decorations.
Look for durable, ethically-made Christmas decorations that
will last for years to come. Or better still, get creative and
make your own decorations out of recyclables or materials
you already have.
 10

LIGHT
RESPONSIBLY
Switch off when you sleep.
Christmas tree lights and outdoor decorative lights don’t need
to be left on all night, so use a timer or switch off when you go
to sleep. If sourcing fairy lights, consider solar options. LED is
the next most energy-efficient option.
 11

RECYCLE
RESPONSIBLY
Flatten recyclable packaging.
We tend to generate a lot more rubbish during the festive
season, so sort your rubbish and flatten recyclable packaging
before packing it in your recycling bin. If it doesn’t all fit, keep
it aside in a box for the next collection. Don’t be tempted to
just get rid of it in a non-recycling bin.
 12

CLEAN
RESPONSIBLY
Choose biodegradable cleaning products.
Whether cleaning before the family comes, or cleaning up
after the Christmas meal, choose biodegradable cleaning
products to keep our soil and water systems safe.
 YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE
YOUR CHRISTMAS SUSTAINABLE.
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