A Sustainable Festive Season

 Biotuff's Tips for a Green Celebration

As the holiday season approaches, Biotuff is on a mission to ensure that this year's festivities come with a sustainable twist. With environmental consciousness at the forefront of Australians' minds, Biotuff encourages everyone to consider the impact of their choices on the planet during this joyous time.

Nadia Steele, spokesperson for Biotuff, emphasises the importance of making eco-friendly decisions without sacrificing the joy of the season. 

"This festive season is an excellent opportunity to align our celebrations with environmental ethics. By adopting mindful practices, we can enjoy the festivities guilt-free, knowing that we are taking steps to protect our precious planet," says Steele.

Many may feel 'sustainably overwhelmed' with confusion around greenwashing and what is good or not for the environment. However, with some research, all Australians can make better choices regarding plastic consumption, aligning with their ethics while supporting the brands fighting for a better tomorrow. 

Tips for a Sustainable Celebration

"Waste Consideration"*

Nadia Steele suggests several ways to minimise waste during the festive season:

Eco-Friendly Decorations: "Ditch the plastic and go natural with decorations. Consider pinecones and evergreen branches that can be composted after the holidays. LED lights on the Christmas tree are festive and energy-efficient."

Planet-Friendly Christmas Tree: "Purchase your Christmas tree from a sustainable source and dispose of it correctly. To support weed control, chop it into small pieces for garden waste, compost, or mulch."

Conscious Gifting: "Choose gifts from recycled or upcycled materials, and support local eco-friendly businesses. Wrap gifts in reusable items such as scarves or recycled paper."

Festive Food: "Be mindful of food waste. Plan how much food you need, get creative with leftovers, and source foods locally. Store leftovers in reusable or compostable plastics."

Single-Use Items: "Switch to compostable plastics to reduce the impact of single-use items. Always ensure proper disposal of compostable plastics. Also, research your recycling codes to check what can and cannot be recycled in Australia and ensure any biodegradable or plant-based plastics you purchase don't contain any traditional or virgin plastics - sadly, many do."

Get Composting: "Start a composting system to combat the significant issue of food waste. If unable to compost at home, inquire about the Food Organics Green Organics collection from your local council."

 

Start Sustainable Celebrations & Conversations

Steele suggests using the festive season to start meaningful conversations about the environment:

"Now is the perfect time to discuss our impact on the environment with friends and family. Initiatives like community gardens, reducing waste, and supporting local eco-friendly businesses can make a substantial difference."

She also recommends exploring state Government initiatives and encouraging community involvement in programs such as Victoria's container deposit scheme.

 

Sustainable New Year's Resolutions

Looking ahead to 2024, Biotuff encourages environmentally conscious New Year's resolutions for all Australians.

"Become savvy with home composting or inquire about FOGO collection in your area," Steele says. "Reduce, reuse, recycle and commit to the three Rs and make a real difference in 2024."

Biotuff also wants all Australians to make a real effort with their purchase of traditional plastics in 2024 and pushes the message that abolishing the use of conventional plastic will make a massive statement towards a greener tomorrow. While educating themselves on the recycling codes and what can and cannot be recycled in Australia.

"With a bit of consideration and thought, you can make your festive season scream sustainability while encouraging others to lead greener and more eco-friendly lives," she says. "It doesn't need to be a life-changing choice—small changes over time can significantly impact our precious world. Let's make collective steps to become more eco-friendly in our everyday approach to benefit our earth and future generations."