Christmas is undoubtedly a season that often leads to excessive consumption, with presents adorned in yards of festive paper, plastic-coated gift bags, and an abundance of sparkly Christmas cards and tinsel that ultimately find their way to landfills across Bangkok. However, it doesn’t have to be that way; a little mindfulness during the festive season can pave the way for a zero-waste Christmas without embodying the proverbial Christmas Grinch!
Numerous small steps can be taken to minimize our environmental impact during the festive season, and if enough of us embrace these changes, it can collectively make a significant difference. Here are our top tips for making your Christmas presents and decorations more eco-friendly.
Give an experience
Consider gifting experiences rather than physical items. Vouchers for activities like a day at Get Growing Farm’s mud slip and slide, an adventure at Flight of the Gibbon in Chonburi or Chiang Mai, or even planning a family trip to Disneyland Tokyo can create lasting memories. Not only does this reduce packaging and waste, but it also adds an extra layer of excitement to the festivities.
Consider aligning your gift choices with your child’s passions and shared family activities. Identify the simple pleasures that truly excite them and opt for vouchers that cater to those interests. Picture presenting an envelope alongside a delightful Swensen’s cake, containing vouchers for upcoming visits throughout the year – an absolute delight for ice cream enthusiasts.
For young cinephiles, cinema vouchers can be an excellent choice, offering the joy of shared movie experiences. If your children have a creative flair, why not treat them to an afternoon at The Paint Bar, where they can indulge their artistic inclinations.
Whichever option you choose, it promises excitement for your child while simultaneously contributing to a reduction in packaging and waste – a definite win-win situation!
Help Them Learn and Grow
Explore unique learning experiences available in Chiang Mai for your children. Invest in courses like Muay Thai, dance classes, tie-dying, art classes, surfing lessons, or even photography courses. These not only contribute to their personal development but also minimize the need for excessive material gifts.
Eco friendly Stocking Fillers
Opt for wooden, nature-based toys that are biodegradable and more durable than their plastic counterparts. Brands like Little Legend, committed to sustainability with items made from reclaimed rubber wood, and Green Toys, which are both recycled and recyclable, offer excellent alternatives.
Wrapping Up
Avoid purchasing traditional wrapping paper, often laminated and non-recyclable. Instead, use newspaper, discarded paper, or repurpose old materials like children’s forgotten paintings or outdated maps. Craft tags from last year’s greeting cards and tie parcels with twine or ribbon for a rustic touch.
Delicious Decorations
Engage in crafting biodegradable Christmas decorations with the kids, such as gingerbread ornaments or decorations made from nuts, shells, or popcorn strands. Upcycle old materials creatively to make unique decorations, from reindeer crafted from wine corks to bunting created from repurposed Christmas cards.
Up-cycled Decorations
From reindeers made from old wine corks to bunting made from old Christmas cards, there are some seriously fun and creative designs out there that can hold their own against any shop bought decorations.
Our absolute favourite is this creative use of old baubles. Rather than throwing them out when they’re looking a bit tired, transform them into Star Wars bb-8 ornaments. The ideal afternoon’s crafting for Star Wars loving kids.
Find more ideas for crafting from recycled materials with kids here. Note: glitter is a microplastic, so if you plan to get sparkly with your ornaments, consider investing in a biodegradable variety such as Eco Stardust. As it has to ship from the UK, offset the carbon by bulk buying with friends.
Whatever you’re up to this festive season, have fun making, doing, and enjoying family time. Memories are the most eco-friendly gift of them all!
