This Christmas, it might be time to rethink the season of giving. With $900 billion worth of presents set to go to waste, Aussies are urged to swap traditional gift-giving for second-hand, homemade, and sustainable options to lighten their impact on the planet—and their wallets.
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00:00It's the season of gift-giving, but it's also the season to massively contribute to
00:05Australia's growing waste problem.
00:07About $900 billion worth of presents will go to waste this Christmas, enveloped in more
00:13than 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper.
00:17That's enough paper to wrap around the equator four times.
00:21CEO of Clean Up Australia Pip Keenan said, with the cost of living pinching, it's an
00:26opportunity to think of ways we can celebrate with a lighter footprint on the planet and
00:31a lighter impact on the back pocket.
00:34To shift some of that massive waste, this year it's recommended Christmas shoppers
00:38purchase second-hand and reusable gifts, or turn to homemade gifts for friends and family.
00:45Purchasing experiences, making a charity donation in a loved one's name, or giving a voucher
00:51are all much more sustainable ways to treat the ones you care for over Christmas.
00:56When wrapping gifts, it's encouraged that Australians use newspaper or your kids' artworks.
01:01You can also send online or virtual cards instead of the usual mailed ones.
01:07For Christmas lunches and dinners, opt for the fine china and reusable cutlery and crockery.
01:12And make sure you keep all your cans and bottles to bring back to a return and earn collection
01:16point once the holidays are over.