After releasing her ‘2018 Plastic Horror Stories’ video on her own initiative, Clare Agius has had tremendous feedback from individuals, private and public entities and NGO’s asking her to be an ambassador on this front and pursue with her message. She has therefore committed to embark on a series of videos that send a strong message and raise consciousness and will be collaborating with likeminded people and entities whose interest lie in saving our oceans, its species and subsequently ourselves. ‘The time to act is now’!
One of the very passionate and truly living with this raised conscious on the environment is Jo Caruana and as both women met unexpectedly a few days after the release of the video, they got thinking! Could we do more to reduce plastic now that it’s nearly Christmas! And the answer is yes!
With just a few simple changes to our Christmas routine, we have found ways to HUGELY reduce the amount of waste – including plastic waste – that we will create this Christmas. And you can too!
Here’s how to have a plastic free Christmas!
Hosting Events
We all love hosting events at Christmas… and attending them too. But can you imagine how much plastic waste is used when we choose disposable options for parties? Like disposable plastic cups, plastic cutlery, plastic plates and plastic straws?
Yes, some of them can be recycled but we should always try to REDUCE first. So, if you’re hosting a party at home this year use REUSABLE cutlery, plates and straws. If you don’t have enough for the size of your event, ask a friend or family member to lend them to you – or even ask your guests to bring their own! Imagine… just from one party for eight people, you could stop over 100 pieces of single use plastic from entering the system.
Oh, and real china looks much nicer for Christmas too… doncha think? *smile*
Wrapping Presents
This time last year, I had no idea that MOST wrapping paper isn’t recyclable! It’s actually covered in a plastic coating to make it shiny… which means it can’t be recycled, and it won’t dissolve over time like normal paper either. The result? More plastic waste going to waste!
This year, I am going to be choosing wrapping paper that IS recyclable – like brown paper. It’s cheap to buy and fun to decorate, and I am even using string instead of sticky tape, because that isn’t recyclable either. My kids and I are going to get creative designing our own, unique wrapping paper… and on Christmas morning I’ll be making sure that all the paper we unwrap is carefully put into the recycling bin. *shows beautifully wrapped brown paper present to the camera* - who knew brown paper could look this beautiful? And no plastic waste!
Anti Plastic Presents
So many of the Christmas presents we buy are already wrapped in plastic. Protective layers… plastic wrapping… it’s hard to get around this! So this year I won’t just be buying the first item to catch my eye – I’ll be thinking about the presents I buy and choosing items that ARENT covered in plastic. This could be things made of wood, china, glass or cloth… and I am even looking for locally-sourced items from local craftspeople, which makes them even more environmentally friendly. I’ve spotted some gorgeous toys made from wood that I think I’ll be buying this year… they’re cute and sustainable.
As for last year’s plastic presents and toys? Instead of throwing them away, I am taking them to a charity shop or donating them to charity. This means that the plastic in them will live on and be enjoyed for years to come (after all, it isn’t degradable!). They will get used again, and won’t create more plastic waste in our landfills.
Decorate Naturally
I love doing up my house and making it feel Christmassy… but the other day I realised HOW MUCH stuff I buy just for Christmas… and most of it has plastic in it! Did you know tinsel is plastic? Baubles are plastic? Almost everything is plastic!
So, this year we’re going down a much more natural route. My kids and I are going to take a walk in Buskett to collect all sorts of natural things – like pine cones, and leaves, and twigs. We’ll then paint them together and use them to make our house feel just as Christmassy as it would normally. Doesn’t this look cute? *shows an example* It’s plastic free!
Say No To Plastic
The Christmas season is all about indulgence and everywhere you go people are going to offer you plastic! Mulled wine in a plastic cup… a sample of cheese on a plastic plate… it’s everywhere! This Christmas – I am saying no. If something is being given to me in single-use plastic… I will not be accepting it. Thank you, but no thank you. Instead, I will be carrying a reusable bottle with me, so I won’t miss out on the fun… and I won’t be making more plastic waste.
Oh, and this also applies to plastic bags. I realised I don’t need aplastic bag for each type of fruit I buy at the grocer… and I don’t need single use pots for dips, cheese, and meat. I now take plastic bags with me and reuse them, and I take reusable containers (the same ones I use for my kids’ lunchbox) to buy anything I need at the deli counter. It’s great – no waste! I think I saved at least 10 plastic bags and 4 plastic containers today… on just one trip to the shop! So that’s less plastic ending up in our sea, on our streets and in our future.
The truth? I realised I have the power to say no. I don’t NEED plastic – none of us do, and we can stop this cycle by standing up to plastic in small ways EVERYDAY. Not only do I WANT TObut it’s my responsibility… so my kids can not only enjoy THIS Christmas on our beautiful island, but many, many Christmases into the future.