Sure, you’ll be able to have a enjoyable festive season and be variety to the planet too. This is how you can have a sustainable Christmas in Singapore.
It’s the time of the 12 months after we indulge ourselves with exuberant items, large feasts and dreamy Christmas decorations. However we frequently overlook the quantity of waste that comes with the festive season. Meals waste, shopping for one too many outfits because of scorching offers, going loopy with present wrapping and buying plastic Christmas decor… the listing goes on. We’re not right here to be the Grinch and take Christmas away from you. However with these simple suggestions, everybody can have a sustainable Christmas in Singapore. Learn on to search out out how one can play a component.
The way to have a sustainable Christmas in Singapore
1. Get an actual Christmas tree
What’s Christmas and not using a fantastically embellished Christmas tree to retailer your presents below? You will get yours from numerous shops and florists round Singapore. However if you happen to’re questioning whether or not an actual or synthetic tree is best for the atmosphere, you could be shocked to realize it’s really greener to get a dwelling plant. Why? With actual timber come fewer carbon emissions from manufacturing and transport. Some even say it’s important to use a synthetic tree for no less than 20 years to minimise the environmental influence of manufacturing it. They aren’t recyclable both. However an actual Christmas tree or plant can reside on after the Christmas lights come down.
2. Store responsibly
This can be a laborious one for shopaholics, with mega purchasing extravaganzas like 11.11 and Black Friday gross sales in place. So, how can we store sustainably with these tempting occasions round? Go for high quality items that maintain worth and that means. As a substitute of a marked-down cookie-cutter merchandise, present a stunning home plant, restaurant voucher or a novel merchandise from a boutique native retailer. Go one step additional and shock a liked one with an expertise like a enjoyable craft workshop or a baking class. At the least you’ll know they received’t return your present or re-gift it to another person.
3. Cut back meals waste
Sure, it’s a convention to have large sharing parts, an entire turkey and hearty bone-in hams on the dinner desk. But when your get together measurement is on the extra intimate aspect, listed here are some suggestions. Order fewer dishes when deciding on your Christmas takeaways. Cooking your personal meal? Go for wonderful plant-based alternate options, store at native farms or bag your necessities at zero-waste grocery shops as a substitute. For those who’re nonetheless craving a conventional meal, be ready for every week of reheating leftovers in order that they don’t go to waste!
4. Shopping for a brand new outfit? Maintain that thought…
Ask your self: do you really want one other glamorous, sequin-heavy outfit that you just’ll solely use a handful of occasions earlier than it will get stashed away in your wardrobe? Most likely not. Be aware of your purchasing habits and buy your Christmas outfit from a sustainable vogue label or classic store as a substitute. They could not sport a loopy marked-down worth like most quick vogue manufacturers, however give it some thought from a cost-per-wear foundation. Or, look to alternate options like garments swapping or gown leases. Psst: it’s additionally not against the law to repurpose previous outfits!
5. Chill on the Christmas decor
Blue hues, traditional pink, frosty white… the alternatives of Christmas themes are limitless – and actually wasteful if you happen to’re planning to buy a brand new set of decorations yearly. We don’t wanna say no to decorations altogether, so listed here are some tricks to preserve issues sustainable: buy handmade or eco-friendly decorations that may be recycled, or just DIY! Get everybody within the household concerned to create handmade ornaments utilizing supplies you’ll find at residence. Alternatively, swap Christmas decor with your loved ones and buddies so that you’ll all the time have one thing recent and enjoyable whereas being eco-friendly.
6. Go the Secret Santa route
To actually minimize down on gift-buying and have fun an eco-friendly Christmas, think about rounding up your loved ones and buddy teams for Secret Santa present exchanges as a substitute. This fashion, you’ll solely be buying a few presents as a substitute of getting one for everybody. We’ve all been there: the last-minute panic earlier than attending a festive get together, the division retailer sweep with all types of not-so-meaningful objects simply to tick issues off your listing, and the items that collect mud in a nook all year long. Skip all that, we are saying!
7. Don’t go OTT with present wrapping
It’s cool to go minimal together with your present wrapping anyway, so why not give the understated look a go? As a substitute of gaudy ribbons and foil or shiny present wrappers, change to reusable material and recyclable paper. Additionally, put your wrapping expertise to the check through the use of much less tape. Be happy to reuse the packaging you’ve acquired too! Don’t throw out present packing containers, ribbons and different ornamental objects that come alongside together with your items – they may come in useful for gifting down the road.
With these fast and straightforward suggestions, you’ll be in your solution to a greener and extra sustainable Christmas very quickly.
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