The holidays are a time for joy, peace and connection with those that we love. Sadly however, they also often lead to overconsumption, over purchasing and a lot of food and gifts left forgotten about at the end of the celebrations.
Here at Leo Africa we hate seeing so many things that are produced and go to waste, so we have written this little handy dandy guide to make some easy sustainable and mindful changes that you can make this holiday season. This year, let's spread the joy of planet Earth.
Support local producers.
This is the season to make a maker happy. Take a look around your local area and get to know all the lovely small businesses and what they have to offer. Could you find what you need from an independent trader? Maybe they could order it in for you or make a good recommendation of another business that could help. In these times of mass consumerism, small 'mom and pops' businesses are often overlooked for the ease of a next day delivery through an app. Yes we understand that everyone is busy, maybe you're working right up to the big day itself, but it takes as much time to drop a small business a message or a call: they will be so happy to hear from you.
We love to use household products by our local supplier Mrs Martins
Wrap carefully.
Not all wrapping paper, gift bags or packaging are created equally. Fancy and glittery wrappings often contain plastic film coatings. For the 30 seconds it will take to rip off the shiny outside, is it really worth the many years it will then take to decompose in landfill or the chemicals and energy wasted to create it in the first place? There are some amazing options out there that can be utilised to create a truly unique and beautiful package with minimal effort. So, rather than feeling that you have to spend fortunes on Hand pressed artisan papers (I mean if you can, please do) but rather make use of simple things you can find. Simple brown paper or magazine paper, with a little string and paper tape, can be super cute and cost effective. Shredded newspapers can become a good filling in a box to keep your gift safe. So have a look around and see what you can reuse, shoe boxes, cookie tins or glass jars can all be utilised to package something nice.
Choose natural decorations.
This is something we love to do because it becomes a good excuse for us to get out into our natural environment and find things that we can make to pretty up the place. Nice dry leaves, pretty sticks etc. (rest assured that we do not pick up flowers!). Making little stick stars with colourful strings and little salt dough cookie decorations can be really simple activities to do with children (or those young at heart) and can be made on a rainy day to keep little hands busy. Drying fruits, like orange slices isn't only super simple but also leaves your home smelling amazing. These dried fruits are multifunctional, providing both decorative options and also a nice edible addition to treats like mulled wine, cocktails or cakes.
Save energy.
Energy usage globally rises around 10% in the run-up to Christmas and through New Year's Eve. This is often due to the purchasing and use of new technological equipment as gifts. However, there is also another culprit: Christmas lights! Please if you are going to have beautiful twinkly lights all over the house, look for low energy LED options (preferably not battery operated) and utilise timer switches to make sure there lights go off at night and lights are not forgotten turned on. It is better for the environment and your bill!
Get digital.
Now, we know, the holidays is all about connection and those little personal touches but are some things really all that necessary? One of the biggest culprits for waste each year is the humble Christmas card, with over 1.5 billion sold in the USA and over 900 million in the UK each year. One tree can produce on average just 2500 cards, and that adds up to A LOT of trees! Now, how about, just here us out... We don't do that any more? Opt for a digital greeting card or a simple friendly phone call or, perhaps simply email / photo message a card design that you've made yourself? There's still the personal element but also the feel good factor that these shiny, plastic coated bits of card aren't lying in a landfill just a couple of weeks after being opened, not to mention the energy and fuel used by the postal networks while getting them to their destination.
Give something back.
We love this option. There are so many good deeds you can do at this time of year, so many humble experiences and ways to give back to your local communities or less local initiatives if you simply ask around. From visiting the elderly who may not have any family to check in on them, to helping at a foodbank or donating to good causes (as a gift for a loved one). There are so many ways you can help no matter what your budget may be.
You could also use this occasion to raise some funds for a special project or charity that is at heart. Should you wish to choose LEO Africa, here the link where you can donate! We are looking to replace two laptops and most importantly, to purchase a new telemetry and two monitoring collars. Any small donation counts! Here is the link to donate: www.leoafrica.org/fundraising
What about your tree?
Have you ever wondered what goes into growing the perfect Christmas tree for every household, every year? And just how many imperfect ones go to waste? Huge pieces of land and water are needed for these slow growing evergreens, sometimes taking up to 10 years to reach a sellable size, reducing the natural ecosystems and habitats available for the animals we love so much. The traditional alternative of fake plastic trees make us want to cry, so there has to be a better option, right? There are so many things in our environments that can be re-purposed into a centerpiece or focal point for your gift giving. From books to fallen branches, it can be quite easy to create a 'tree' alternative in your home, dressed up with lights and some home makes decorations. Here some Sustainable Christmas Tree ideas!
Meal planning.
Now this, might be the trickiest of them all. With all the people who pop in to visit, family gatherings and school holidays to take into account, our fridges and stoves are working overtime during the festive season. It is so easy to over buy, overconsume and create masses of waste. Don't worry though, there are a few quick and ease things you can do to minimise stress and waste. It's a great time to use your freezer space to capacity, pre-prepare portions of treats and snacks like pastries, cold cuts and cakes that are easy to get out and use at short notice for those unexpected guests. Batch cooking base sources that can be adapted and turned into different meals limits waste and makes sure every scrap of leftovers can be used (basic ragout into a chilli and lasagna, or poitje into a pot pie or curry). Batches of cookie dough can also be a fantastic way of keeping children busy on wet days. Don't forget to get creative with your leftovers - can you add it into an omelette for breakfast? Can you turn it into a soup? What about adding it to a grilled cheese? Maybe there is an elderly neighbour or family member that could make use of what's left. Most importantly though, don't over buy, make use of what you already have to the best of your abilities. If you have a lot of family coming, consider a 'pot luck' event and have everyone bring one dish to fill the table.
Thoughtful gifts mean more.
Something people always ask is 'what do you want?', but we prefer to ask instead 'What do you NEED?' They are often two very different answers, with the latter being more honest. If we help our loved ones with what they need, rather than just buying stuff that would be nice to have, then we know we have really helped that person at the same time as reducing wasted or duplicate items. Needed requests can be as simple as a couple of nights of babysitting, meals for the freezer, help fixing things around the home or the most requested ... the gift of time. Fill some diary slots with time set aside just for that person with the understanding of how much your time is appreciated by them. Another nice idea to simplify Christmas buying for children is to minimise the shear volumes of useless stuff that tends to appear from under a mountain of gift wrap is to work on the easy 5 gift category system.
1 Something you want, 2 Something you need, 3 Something to wear, 4 Something to read, 5 Something to create. Hint - this list can also get passed to all those well-meaning grandparents.
Start your own traditions.
Slow down, take some time to reassess what's important to you. Don't be afraid to stop doing the traditions that don't serve a real purpose or fit with your blooming eco mindset. Start something new, something more fitting, something that helps you grow each year. Maybe it's a change in your buying habits or the making and collecting of decorations. Perhaps it's a change in what you cook for the big meal, looking at using local produces and suppliers to support your local community. Enjoy making healthy new traditions that will withstand the test of time with minimal impact to the environment around us.
So why don't you give the gift of compassion for our planet this Christmas and be the change in the world that we all need this holiday season.
Maybe even this year, you could consider give the gift of volunteering at Leo Africa?!
With festive love .... The Leo Team
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