A Merry Cheatsheet for your Workplace
The silly season is upon us and that means a lot of fun! But, it also means more waste is inevitably produced.
Did you know? Australians use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper during the festive period. (CSIRO, 2024)
That’s not all.
Australian households alone waste 2.5 million tonnes of food. (Ozharvest 2024)
Despite these alarming facts, we’re here to help you celebrate a less wasteful holiday season.
Read on to learn ways of reducing your waste production in the workplace.
HOSTING AN OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY?
Send out customisable e-invitations versus paper cards-> there are many websites where you can get creative with the invites!
Steer clear from single-use plastics-> use your existing kitchen mugs to drink your eggnog + plates and cutlery. Don’t let Christmas themed plastic crockery fool you.
Reuse last year’s decorations-> save your money and the environment by reusing past decorations.
Donate your packaged foods to OzHarvest-> bring your pasta, rice and long-life milk to the office and we will pick it up.
*We have partnered with OzHarvest for their Workplace Food Drive! It’s a simple and meaningful way to give back to the community and spread the holiday cheer from your workplace. Book your Power Pickup here!
SUSTAINABLE SECRET SANTA
We understand that a lot of Australians don’t enjoy gift shopping and struggle to find the time to buy gifts that their loved ones will actually use forever. We’re all guilty of resorting to buying gifts that are tangible yet have no practical value. Although the thought always counts, impractical items will most likely end up in landfill.
More than 6 million Aussies expect to receive presents they won’t use or wear.
(Australia Institute)
Here’s a few tips to make your gifts more sustainable:
Purchase an experience-> forget about buying a physical item, everyone remembers an experience e.g. restaurant voucher, sip and paint class, pottery class, a comedy show - the list is endless.
Avoid brand new gifts-> if you’re planning a secret santa for your colleagues, try thrifting an item each ($5 spend) instead of buying a new item.
Use old magazines / newspapers for gift wrapping-> as much as buying a new roll of wrapping paper is exciting, the aesthetics are not worth the cost of landfill.
E-gift cards-> there are many cute e-gift card designs that make this gift idea fun and thoughtful. Take a look at our Christmas themed gift cards here.
ESTABLISH YOUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
While everyone is feeling the festive spirit, it’s a great time to revisit your company’s sustainability objectives and have a conversation about it. There are always ways to improve your carbon footprint and getting feedback from peers is a start!
Set up an informal meeting with your colleagues-> talk about how you’d like the company to become more involved in sustainability practices over some Christmas punch.
Highlight your company’s achievements with the team!-> don’t forget to share the good news too!
Need a new way to improve your workplace’s waste habits in the New Year? Read more about our Office Packs here.
We know that this period can be a stressful time for many. Use this cheatsheet at any time for alternative Christmas ideas that won’t cost the Earth.
Share these helpful tips with your colleagues or friends.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Your RecycleSmart Team.
