Five Tips for a Sustainable Christmas

Published on 01 December 2025

5 Tips for a Sustainable Christmas

The Christmas season is a time to connect, give, share and celebrate - but it’s also one of the most waste-intensive periods of the year. There are a range of events and resources to support you to have a more sustainable Christmas this year. We have listed some ideas and links below to help you get started!

Gift an experience (no wrapping paper required!)
Not sure what to buy? Give the gift of an experience! Whether it’s a cooking class, concert tickets, or a spa day, experiential gifts create lasting memories and reduce physical clutter. Plus, they bring joy twice: once when opened and again when enjoyed.
Recycle right

Selecting items with minimal or easy to recycle packaging, and gifts that are durable and will last a long time, is a good start to reducing waste. Batteries are a big one we see around Christmas - whilst they might seem harmless, they can quickly become a fire hazard if disposed of incorrectly. Check Lane Cove Councils A-Z of Recycling to see where to dispose of those pesky items this festive season.
Reusable Advent Calendar
Skip the single-use advent calendars each year, invest in a reusable advent calendar. Fill it with treats of your choice or a note for each day, outlining a fun activity to do in the lead up to Christmas. Google 'Reusable advent calendar' to buy one in store or, lock in for a craft activity with the kids and make your own!
Reduce Food Waste
Over-catering is common during the holidays, and planning is key to cutting down on food waste. Create a menu tailored to your guest list, focus on items with longer shelf lives for unexpected drop-ins, and store leftovers properly. Get creative with leftover meals and freeze what you can’t use immediately. Check out the Good Food Guides 'What can you freeze at Christmas' article for ideas.
Use a living Christmas Tree
The most sustainable option is a tree you can reuse for many years - ideally something homemade, like a simple arrangement of gathered branches, or a potted plant such as an Australian native pine. These options avoid waste and can become a long-term tradition. While plastic trees can be reused, they are made from non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastics and metals. Eventually, they all end up in landfill. Living plants, on the other hand, are fully biodegradable and easily recycled or replanted.

Clean Up Australia's 'Waste Less, Celebrate More' webinar

To promote a more thoughtful and sustainable festive season, Clean Up Australia is hosting a free one-hour webinar in collaboration with sustainability educator Annie Woollard. The session will explore common sources of waste at Christmas, include an interactive quiz, and offer practical tips on mindful consumerism and low-impact celebrations.

This year’s message is especially timely as Council prepares to roll out its new food-waste service in March next year. The upcoming service will keep our food waste out of landfill and turn it into a nutrient rich soil conditioner and green electricity - but the most powerful action we can take is still preventing food waste in the first place.

When: 12:00 – 12:45pm, Wednesday 3^rd December
Where: Online (during your lunch break!)
How: Register here Waste Less, Celebrate More