From the bottom of our organic spinach, lemon & beet smoothies, we'd like to wish all our traders, their customers, families, friends and supporters all the best for the upcoming summer break and one million thanks for your support of each other and for ekko.world this year. And most importantly, thank you for your commitment - large and small, anything at all, for a better eco world. Everything counts.This year, we rounded up a few Aussies and some of our biggest 2018 supporters and asked them what they were up to this Christmas and to give us at least one eco tip. (I apologise to the many traders not here and we are hoping you feel reasonably represented by the tips shared by your fellow business travellers. Anyways, there is always the opp to hijack the comments at the bottom.)
This year I am switching off and spending time with my family. I don't get much family time, so I make the most of it over the holidays. Beach, sleep, hikes, nature - all the good stuff! My fashion tip for the silly season? If you are going to buy something 'new', at least buy something you'll wear again! Buying natural fibres (like something linen or cotton) will mean you can continue to wear it year round, and if you opt for something minimal, you'll get plenty of repeat wear out of it. This is cute, and it looks great with big frilly earrings (go for red if you want to get festive) and wedges for Christmas parties, but you'll get wear out of it year-round.
This year we are hosting Christmas at home on the farm. Our house will be bursting at the seams with 16 adults and 6 kids coming for Christmas lunch, who are also all staying the night. This will involve many mattresses on the floor and not one but two camper vans! We will have a big traditional lunch of ham, turkey and salads, followed by plum pudding and pavlova, then possibly some afternoon naps, followed by more food, and of course many, many laughs! Christmas Day is by far my favourite day of the year because it's such a special time to catch up and spend some qualify time with family and friends. My eco tip? Switch off phones on Christmas day and be present with your friends and family and don't worry about mess or eating too much! It's a day far too special to involve stress - it's way better spent with laughter and fun!
Christmas will be spent with my family and friends. I will definitely be including a salty swim in my Christmas activities! This year (like most years) I have made 90% of gifts and wrapping them in recycled paper and handmade beeswax wraps. There's nothing like a handmade gift from a loved one! My eco tips? Say no to any plastic straw that might pop up during your partying, you might just be saving the life of a sea turtle. I try and stay clear from the mass produced Christmas decorations that we see on shelves this time of year. They're generally made unethically and of plastic materials. Opt for making your own!
This Christmas, we are celebrating with our loved ones. Feasting at home on sustainable & locally sourced produce, having a few wines and watching some Christmas movies!Our tip is for an eco Xmas is to take your reusable straw! Or if you don’t already have one, get one. It’s something that is so simple but if we all do it and refuse plastic straws it will have a big impact. Avoid the gimmicky, cute disposable toys or ornaments that will be used once and just end up in landfill, invest in pieces you love that will last. Also, get creative with your wrapping, use old clothing, re-use other wrapping paper or at least make sure you use wrap that can be recycled.
We’re camping with two other families at North Stradbroke Island. It’s heavenly- relaxing, salty & rustic as everything happens outdoors. Kitchen & tables are under the shade of big trees with the odd leaf casually falling to decorate the table and dishes of food. My eco tip? Homemade entertainment with guitars & group vocals around the camplight, ice tea, kombucha & craft beers to accompany crunchy salads & guacamole. Every morsel appreciated and eaten, nothing going to waste. The children doing the dishes in the same buckets of water that is used throughout the day.
This Christmas 2 of my 3 children will be working, which is wonderful for them but strange for me! We are having Christmas lunch with extended family.My eco tip? Only the children in my family receive gifts. Reusable fabric sacks are a great alternative to wrapping gifts. Plan post lunch waste sorting ahead of time so everyone knows what to do with empty bottles, food scraps and general waste. Under cater with meat portions and over cater with plant based dishes. I always avoid using any disposable plates, cups, cutlery. We make cleaning up a part of the “celebration”. Use a glass pen to write names on glasses to avoid confusion.
I am having my first Christmas at home in Germany, a simple family meal with duck, red cabbage with potato dumplings, the traditional Christmas food in my area of Germany on the eve 24th December.We will also visit the Christmas Market to drink Gluwein and eat Quark Dumplings covered in icing sugar. And then a long walk in the forrest afterwards. My eco tip is not to give lots of unwanted presents, I like to give and receive hand made things like home made biscuits wrapped in simple home decorated wrapping paper. Other tips, don't get stressed, love your family, however they are and enjoy the quiet time to reflect on the year ahead. MARION O'LEARY, MOKOSH
Our Christmas tradition is to head down to the beach first thing for a quick dip - we’re lucky to live so close! Then it will be breakfast and presents, followed by a relaxed late lunch in the garden. My children love games so I will most likely be roped into Monopoly in the afternoon before we head to my brother’s place to catch up with more family. I love Christmas day - I try to prepare ahead as much as possible so I can make the most of spending time with the people I love.My eco tip? When we entertain we like to make all the food ourselves rather than buying anything ready-made - it reduces the amount of plastic waste and also means no hidden palm oil, emulsifiers or other dodgy ingredients. It tastes so much better as well! As the children have grown - and probably because I have nagged them so much - they are less interested in ’stuff’, and are more thoughtful about what they buy. So we tend to buy each other things that will either be worn or used a lot. For extended family I like to give something I’ve made - a mini Christmas cake, some bath bombs or - surprise, surprise - some Mokosh products!
This Christmas I’ll be relaxing with my children on the River Murray. (This pic is with my family releasing turtles in Bali earlier this year.) My eco tip? This Christmas, wrap presents in compostable paper and decorate gifts with compostable twine. And of course, reduce your carbon footprint by collecting all of your rubbish in a BioBag and give the planet a gift as well. It will be much better for the planet than using plastic.”
This Christmas I will be spending time with family and friends and to trying to get some downtime away from technology whilst enjoying the sunshine. All very good for the soul!My eco tip? Take the empty glass bottles home, they make beautiful vases, water bottles and candle holders. Wrap your gifts in fabric - not only does it look stunning, but the fabric is reusable over and over again.
This year I am spending my Christmas with close family. As makers of hand poured soy candles and handmade soaps, bath and body products, you won't be too surprised to hear that we're steering clear of Christmas crackers and going with kraft wrapping paper for all of our Christmas gifts. We're also being more mindful this year of making good food choices and ensuring that we create less waste.
We will be working through Christmas except for Christmas Day which we’ll share with our family and friends. My tip? Don’t get caught up with the massive over consumption at Christmas time. Make or repurpose gifts (yes regifting really is OK!). Get younger family members to make cards from scrap paper and don’t waste time on wrapping presents in Christmas paper. Present your gifts in tea towels or reusable bags and avoid a single use plastic Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
This Christmas we are hosting dinner celebration at our place. It's supposed to be warm so it will be poolside. Our Christmas celebrations are always fun and filled with games for young and old. Several members of my family are vegan so we will have a vegan Christmas cake. This Christmas we are going back to proper plates and cutlery. It's a no plastic Christmas for us. I have also opted mostly for experiential gifts rather than store bought items or donations to causes including conservation ones of course.
This Christmas I'll be at home in Australia, enjoying time with my nephew, his wife & 3 sons. They're setting out on a 12 month drive around Australia - a wonderful experience for them all. I'll be planning when I can join them in the Centre!My eco tip? Please, no paper napkins or plastic plates & cups. And all gifts are in reusable bags. Relax & enjoy your time with family and friends. And remember that re-gifting is allowed!
I'm spending Xmas day with my family. We don't go crazy...Just a simple lunch usually of prawns and lots of salads, some bubbles(!) followed by lots of board games; always with cheese and chocolates.My eco tip? Keep it simple. Creating an inviting Xmas table for friends and family does not equal buying tonnes of items (especially plastics and single use or once a year used items.)Look around you. It's amazing what you can create from nature and items you already own. Be resourceful. Borrow, swap, trade with friends. There's no need to spend lots of money. Xmas is about creating memories and being with the ones you love. It's not about the things.
This holiday season the SoL team are taking a few days off to reenergise and reboot! Going to be spending lots of time with family and friends and have some down time to really find some balance again after a busy year! My eco tips? Easy swaps! Less refined sugar, and more natural foods and fruits = less waste and packaged goods! Try Seedlip non alcoholic drinks, if you're trying to avoid alcohol this silly season! They are all natural and sustainable. But most importantly don't forget your re-usable SoL cup, they don't have to be just for coffee :)
I'll be spending time with my family at the beach. I'll definitely be getting out on my bike or for a run in the National park. My eco tip? Choose organic wine for your celebrations, there are some wonderful varieties grown here in Australia. And bring your own glass, don't use disposable plastic. World Vision has a range of gifts to choose from including clean water projects, handwashing stations, as well as goats, cows & chickens to feed entire communities. Or you may choose to give the gift of your time and volunteer on a project that has positive impact on people and the planet. Check out our blog post for 7 ways to a more ethical and sustainable Christmas.
I’ll be spending Christmas with my family and making sure to fit in lots of quality beach time to unwind after a busy year! I’ll be living in our new Summer collection to stay cool on the go.Our top eco tip is packing your reusable straw in your bag when you head out the door, perfect for those Christmas party cocktails ;) We are also loving repurposing old wrapping paper or boxes for our gifting. Open your pressies carefully and reuse the paper all year long!
Naturally Berry will have the Christmas days off before we go back to harvesting again our juicy strawberries and raspberries and start filling those empty shelves again. Once you’re starting growing and take control of the quality of produce work never stops. Christmas can be the most wasteful time and consumer-driven time of the year. Our tip is to focus again on what Christmas is all about. A time for reflection and family time. Slow down and enjoy what Christmas meant to you as a child. Forego any excess of things that will end in a garage sale down the way. Focus on the meaning of giving and purchase a gift with value and purpose. Use effective LED lighting to save power and make you tree ornaments out of wood or paper. Use reusable not disposable and simplify your decorations. Make your guests contribute to a smashing "green" end of year party and create this way talking points.
Call me traditional, but Christmas is a time for family and friends. We will be doing lots of swimming, laughing and eating.This year at Sendle we decided not to do presents for one another, but instead we did toasts at our team Christmas party. Everyone toasted someone else (or multiple people). It was fun, and had zero environmental footprint (other than loads of hot air). Sendle has been very proud to deliver presents for tens of thousands of small businesses this year – all 100% carbon neutral. Indeed, if you put all of Sendle’s deliveries back to back, we have almost reached Neptune!
This Christmas, there'll be lots of good food, family and laughter! All of us here at Hemp Gallery come from big families so there is always a lot happening on the day. Our eco tips? Instead of using disposable cutlery, cups and plates ensure you are using reusable. Leftovers? Rather than throwing away, donate to a food charity, or give to someone in need. Re-wear a favourite outfit instead of buying a new one! Try reusable present packaging. The Furoshiki Japanese method of wrapping presents with cloth is so beautiful and very easy to create! Try using a t-shirt, scarf or just some lovely fabric to wrap gifts.
This year we are having Christmas with both my parents and the in laws. My children are very excited to get to spend the day with both sets of grandparents. The great thing about having it all together is not just getting to share the joy of the day with everyone but also it reduces travel as most families do lots of visits to many family members on Christmas day & reduces food waste as there are more people eating which means fewer leftovers and what is leftover is shared equally among guests to take home.I have so many eco tips to share. First off make your own bon bons or party crackers! Use recycled rolls, scrap paper or even material and find a useful gift to pop inside like a roller bottle filled with essential oil blend or DIY lip gloss or bath bombs.Get your hands dirty! - Use proper cutlery and plates. I know disposable is easier but when I was young the adults prepared lunch and the kids washed & dried the dishes and some of the best memories I have as a kid at Christmas is when the cousins would all get together after Christmas lunch and wash & dry the dishes.
I'm spending Christmas with my family in Canberra. It will be reasonably quiet, will lots of little get-togthers with friends and family. My eco tips? Try not to waste food! Don't go overboard with food purchasing, and make sure you eat all the inevitable leftovers in the days after Christmas. Do as much preparation beforehand so you can actually relax on Christmas Day. There's nothing worse than the last minute trip to the supermarket (which will be crazy busy)!
(Kate) It's been a big year for Becs and I ... As my family and I do every year, we'll migrate down to a lake in the middle of the country and stay with the extended family. There are piles of older cousins to spoil and look after my kids which means that I can literally stick my nose in a book for hours on end. Bliss.Our eco tips? As tempting as it can be, don't go for disposable cups, plates, cutlery etc. Hire the real stuff if it's a big gig or BYO some from home if it's more of a picnic-type affair.The gift of an experience or of your time will often mean more than giving more 'stuff'. I remember giving my dad a 'voucher' for a 30 minute back rub when I was a teen and he took it in 30 x 1 minute lots! We still laugh about it to this day.
My whole family and my husband's whole family are travelling to Australia from the States to celebrate Christmas with us in Western Australia (we're originally from California) and then we'll be spending a week in Sydney for New Years! My eco tip is Wrap alllll the goodies with upcycled things (old posters, newspapers, etc) -- Less is More! Shop locally and ethically - know the backstory about the companies you're choosing to support. Forego an excess of stuff - purchase things with value and meaning and that hopefully won't get thrown away a few months later!
I will be spending Christmas at home enjoying the simple but beautiful moments of this day including laughing with family and friends, relaxing and listening to the wind rustle the trees and the birds chirp, and reminiscing on the wonderful year that was. My eco tip? Try to avoid waste in all aspects of your festive celebrations. Use reusable tableware instead of disposable items, decorate your table with greenery from your garden instead of balloons or plastic decorations, and only purchase food that you know will be eaten. Food waste during this time increases significantly. Avoid this by meal planning, sticking to a strict shopping List and by using leftovers.
I am spending a relaxed Christmas Day at home with my husband, two children, four chooks and two guinea pigs. We will exchange gifts, eat fish and salad for lunch, followed by my homemade Christmas cake. Then, if last year is anything to go by, we might be entertained by a concert performed by the children singing and playing ukelele. My eco tips? Eat locally produced food - my homemade Christmas cake will be made using our own chook's eggs, Australian grown dried fruit, and locally produced rum. avoid single use decorations and serving ware and avoid food containing palm oil - in particular check ingredients labels in festive food for "vegetable oil". It can be found in mince pies, chips, crackers, chocolate, sweet biscuits, salad dressings and more. I aim to make Christmas a time to show appreciation to, and spend quality time with, loved family and friends. I also like to make a donation to charity in support of those less fortunate.
This year we are having Christmas week with various family members from around Australia. Christmas Day we are having lunch 5 adults, 3 toddlers and enjoying the chaos that is the festive season. My eco tip? Prepare ahead and take your reusables with you, that way you aren’t caught out and can’t go wrong. Most shops, markets and stalls are happy to accommodate the eco customer. Have a merry Christmas and remember there isn’t a better time than the new year to start or further your eco journey.
I'll be spending time with my husband relaxing, and taking walks on our local beach - Palm Cove, Queensland. My eco tip? Don't crack open the cracker! They are always full of little pieces of plastic that will be played with for hour an hour and then destined for landfill. This also provides an opportunity to educate others about plastic pollution. If you're heading to the beach the summer, be sure to Take 3 for the Sea. If you see a piece of plastic on the beach, no matter how small pick it up and put it in the garbage (or recycle if possible!).
Well said Simone! What a difference a year makes. Monday, 31 December 2018
I love these tips. How terrific - I can't believe how much different our thinking was just from one Christmas to the next. I love learning from the Ekko Community :-) X Monday, 31 December 2018