Twist and Sprout, Rochester is helping to reducing waste, particularly food waste, which is crucial in making Christmas more sustainable and gentle on the planet.
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In the lead-up to Christmas, your local zero-waste refillery and eco-store Twist and Sprout owner Emma Solomano offers advice on eco-friendly, local, organic, vegan and zero-waste options for the pantry, kitchen, home, body and more.
Christmas can be a stressful time for some, even before we consider its impact on the wider world.
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But we can make the ‘silly season’ a little less silly and live more lightly on the Earth at the same time.
Reducing waste, especially food waste, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make Christmas gentler on the planet.
Agriculture uses huge amounts of land, water and energy, yet by the time food reaches our mouths, around 40 per cent has disappeared into landfills and compost heaps.
In Australia specifically, most of that waste comes at the end of the process, under the control of supermarkets and the eaters themselves.
And every year, food waste spikes dramatically at Christmas time.
When food ends up in landfill, it decays anaerobically.
This releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
But if we compost our food scraps, they can be used again.
Eating and appreciating the food in the first place is even kinder to the planet and our wallets.
Storing your party leftovers is a perfect way to ensure you have more delicious food for the day after Christmas celebrations.
Like I discuss with my customers, reducing waste goes far beyond packaging; it’s about valuing the resources that produced the items to begin with.
Giving fewer, better quality and more sustainable gifts is another way to simplify the season.
Homemade treats, consumables and thoughtful second-hand gifts can be meaningful and loved items.
Choosing recycled options or those made from renewable materials like timber or paper helps reduce the environmental impact as well.
Another great option is to give experiences, like a museum voucher or a pass to an adventure park.
These can create memories without adding clutter.
Choosing fewer, high-quality and sustainable gifts like homemade treats or experiences can simplify the season and reduce environmental impact.
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In Australia, we use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper every Christmas.
A lot of this won’t be recycled, partly because lots of styles of wrapping paper have a layer of plastic to make them glossy or glittery.
If choosing to use single-use wrapping paper, ensure it is plastic-free and ready for the recycling bin.
You can also try fabric or other reusable wrapping.
It can even become a new family tradition.
Treating the planet well includes choosing things that will be used, loved and appreciated, rather than forgotten or wasted.
Most of all, we can make Christmas less about the objects we get, and more about spending time together, enjoying each other’s company.
A simpler Christmas doesn’t take anything away from the celebration.
If anything, it brings us closer to what the season is meant to be about, which is joy and gratitude.
Twist and Sprout can be found at 62 Mackay St, Rochester, open Monday to Saturday.
