Give a Gift to the Sea, Make Christmas Plastic-Free: Top 5 Sustainable Decorations

Yes, Christmas is approaching, crazy isn’t it! Ideally you will be dusting off those boxes full of Christmas decorations that have been in your family forever. However, if it’s time for new decorations we hope this article helps to provide eco-friendly, affordable options. When you think of Christmas in Australia, you might associate it with lit up houses, wreaths, Christmas BBQ’s, backyard cricket, pool parties, beach outings and family gatherings. Sadly, there is also the association of curb side bin’s overflowing with rubbish, holiday traffic and financial pressure. This article is written to help you make eco-conscious decisions, so you can enjoy decorating this Christmas sustainably.  

Why Choose Sustainable Decorations? 

The holiday season often generates a significant amount of waste, particularly from single-use plastics, plastic decorations and other non-recyclable materials. By opting for sustainable decorations, we can reduce our consumption of both materials and resources.  

Sustainable Decoration Ideas  

Here are some creative and eco-friendly ways to decorate your home this Christmas:

1.Have a Crafternoon! DIY Decorations

• • Forage for Natural Beauty: Australia is rich with awesome natives that are accessible and can be repurposed into beautiful decorations for Christmas.  

• • Dried Citrus: Slice oranges, lemons, and limes and dry them in the oven or a food dehydrator. These fragrant decorations can be used on your tree, inside cold drinks, or create unique ornaments. 

• • Homemade Ornaments: Get crafty and make your own ornaments using recycled materials like cardboard, fabric scraps, and old jewelry. 

• • Native Wreaths: Create beautiful wreaths using natural materials. Include the use of dried banksia, bottle brush, waratah and other gum flowers wrapped in twine with eucalyptus gum leaves and you have your own unique wreath to impress family, friends and neighbours.  

2.Sustainable Lighting

• • LED Lights: LED lights are energy-efficient and long-lasting, making them a great choice for holiday lighting. 

• • Solar-Powered Lights: These lights are eco-friendly and perfect for outdoor decorations. 

• • Candlelight: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with candles made from natural waxes like beeswax or soy. Reuse old jam jars to make your own candles.  

3.Natural Decor

• • Houseplants: These are a great way to create different textures, styles and vibes to decorate for Christmas.  

• • Propagation: Make cuttings of existing Ivy or other plants to put inside unused jars and glassware to place around your Christmas decorations, which look awesome once roots are formed.  

• • Branches and Cuttings: If you are doing some Summer Pruning, think about ways in which you can repurpose these cuttings as table decorations or place them around the house with your other ornaments. Going for a bushwalk and finding droppings of natives is also a great way to find some unique decorations. Important note though: cuttings from the bush are not advised! Let’s leave this beauty for all to enjoy.  

4.Sustainable Gift Wrapping

• • Reusable Wrapping: Use fabric or paper bags to wrap your gifts. These can be reused year after year. 

• • Natural Materials: Wrap gifts in natural materials like brown paper, paper sheets or newspaper. 

• • Eco-Friendly Ribbon and Tags: Choose ribbon and tags made from recycled materials or natural fibers. 

• • Seabin Foundation Colouring Book & Gift Cards: Available to shop HERE for Australia and HERE for USA!

5.Mindful Consumption

• • Shop Local and Small: Support local businesses and artisans by purchasing handmade decorations and gifts. Find decorations using #buyfromthebush on Instagram 

• • Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Say no to plastic decorations, wrapping paper, and gift bags. 

A Plastic Free Christmas for Cleaner Oceans 

By making small changes to our holiday traditions, we can significantly reduce our environmental impact. Making a more mindful choice in what to use to decorate your space this Christmas, let’s ensure that our decorations aren’t ending up in our oceans or tarnishing our precious planet. 

This year, give a gift to the sea by choosing a greener option that brings joy without harming the environment. Ready to make the switch? Let’s make this Christmas plastic-free and memorable for all the right reasons! Share your ideas with the hashtag #PlasticFreeChristmasSF

Want more sustainable ideas? Check out our other blog posts.

Still looking for the perfect gift? Check out our store or give a donation this Chritmas!

How to get involved

There are many ways we can all contribute to the global effort for cleaner oceans! Contact us here to find out how you can get involved on our mission for cleaner oceans.

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