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Let’s Get Ready For Green Christmas Festivities

The festive season is upon us. If you’re getting ready to celebrate a green and sustainable Christmas this year, then we have lots of great ideas for how you can do that.

From using native plants to decorate your tree, giving experiences rather than ‘things’, supporting local farmers and buying seasonal produce, to choosing more authentic and eco-conscious gift wrapping, and giving the ultimate Christmas gift: the gift of conservation.

There are many ways you can celebrate in style, without compromising on your authentic eco-friendly values.

1. Decorate your Christmas tree with native plants

This year, we hope to inspire you with sustainable ways to decorate your Christmas tree.

One option is to use native Australian flora to decorate your tree, such as eucalyptus branches, banksias or wildflowers.

They’re beautiful, locally sourced, and compostable after the holidays. And they’re a much more sustainable option than imported decorations that are often used only once, or made from plastic.

Here are more ideas to green your tree

• Consider using solar-powered tree lights or LED lights, which are energy-efficient.
• Avoid plastic tree decorations (as well as glitter, which spreads microplastics into the environment) and opt for homemade decorations from natural materials like fabric or paper.
• If you’re buying tree decorations, aim to upcycle items into tree decorations, and shop at second-hand stores.
• Opt for a potted tree rather than an artificial tree – that way, you can plant it in your garden after the holidays and use it in your Nature Block to build back biodiversity.

If you’re buying a real tree, source your tree responsibly and ensure it’s not been removed illegally from a park or nature reserve.

2. Give experiences, not stuff

Rethink the types of gifts you put under the tree in an effort to make them more sustainable. Gifting experiences, or gifts that are upcycled, or from second-hand shops, can help green festive season giving.

Sustainable gifts in the form of experiences, rather than more commodities, can be a great way to show your family and loved ones how much you care about them – and the environment.

Some ideas of experiences you can give include tickets to a concert or show, a massage or spa day, or a cooking class. You can also gift a voucher for a nature walk, or invite someone to go conservation volunteering with you.

It’s often hard to find gifts for people who seem to have everything already – in that case, the gift of a charitable impact can be meaningful. For example, you could gift a tree planted in aid of restoring a nature reserve or park. Or you could support efforts to care for endangered animals such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

After all, memories last longer than clutter.

If you feel you want to buy a physical gift, there are also ways to ensure that’s done more sustainably. For example, you could buy packets of native plant seeds or garden supplies, and you could shop at second-hand charity shops.

3. Buy local and seasonal

Whether you’re buying a Secret Santa gift, looking for a stocking filler, or you’re shopping for food for your Christmas feast, buying seasonal and locally-made goods helps support the local economy and sustainability.

When you buy local produce for your Christmas meal, you can support Australian farmers, reduce food miles, and also enjoy fresher, tastier ingredients.

Buying produce that’s in season supports local farmers and shops – thereby reducing the food miles associated with importing goods from other countries.

4. Rethink your Christmas wrapping

The sight of Christmas gifts all beautifully laid out under the tree is the epitome of the festive season. Get creative this year with your gift wrapping, while making it more sustainable – by ditching single-use gift wrap.

Instead, you can opt for reusable wrappings made from fabric, recycled paper or even old maps, magazine pages or newspapers. That way, your gifts will look really unique, and you’ll be diverting waste from landfills.

Here are a few more sustainable gift wrap ideas:

• Decorate an old shoe box to present your gifts in – perhaps decorate the outside with cuttings from magazines
• Use a scarf to wrap your gifts and tie it up beautifully using the traditional Japanese furoshiki gift wrapping technique (which also avoids using any tape and is a 2-in-1 gift)
• Upcycle old clothing into a reusable fabric tote bag that you can wrap your gift in (this will require some basic sewing skills)

 

5. Give the gift of conservation this festive season

Give the ultimate gift this festive season: donate $25 to our Safeguard a Bandicoot campaign.

Your support can make a huge difference in helping the Eastern Barred Bandicoot go from being an endangered species to thriving again in the wild.

By supporting our bandicoot conservation work, you’ll also receive an exclusive Eastern Barred Bandicoot Christmas card to gift someone. This might just be the most meaningful and unique gift you give this year!

A greener Christmas starts with small steps

This festive season, celebrating sustainably doesn’t mean sacrificing joy or tradition. It’s about making thoughtful choices that honour both the people we love and the natural world we share.

Whether you’re decorating with native flora, wrapping gifts in fabric, or supporting bandicoot conservation, every small action contributes to a healthier planet.

As you gather with family and friends this Christmas, remember that the most meaningful celebrations often leave the lightest footprint. Here’s to a festive season filled with connection, kindness, and care for nature.

From all of us at Conservation Volunteers Australia, we wish you a wonderful green Christmas!