lifestyle
Other Fun and Meaningful Gift Ideas There are many ways to give meaningful gifts and even some without having to go out shopping . When it comes to eco gift giving , purchasing items with value , purpose and meaning is the foundation of sustainability .
• The Gift of Charity : In the name of the gift recipient , donate money to a local charity , an environmental protection group , sponsor a child in need or find out what the gift receiver would like to support and donate to that cause .
• The Gift of an Experience : If you know your child , spouse or uncle has always wanted to try something different then buy them a gift certificate .
• Plant a tree : The planet needs more trees .
• Edibles and plants : Give the gift of a garden by making up a pretty bag with seeds that will turn into plants ; veggies , fruits and sunflowers that can be grown on little HK balconies . Or buy a special plant that will last and last and provide some greenery around the home .
• Homemade treats : Get creative with cookies , gingerbread men , cakes , jams , mulled wine mix , special gin infusion or your own vanilla .
Gift Wrapping There are many great options here . You can reuse gift bags , boxes , tissue paper and ribbon you have at home from last Christmas or any recent birthdays or other celebrations . Why not choose a fabric scarf or tea towel to wrap your gifts ? They can become part of the gift itself . Recyclable , plain or brown paper adorned with twine or raffia and tree sprigs make for stunning gift wrap too .
• Use greeting cards received last year or any other recycled material to make gift tags . For gift bags that come with tags attached , write " Reuse this bag !" instead of the recipient ' s name .
Where the Honey Runs
• Zero Waste Christmas Gift Sacks are a beautiful and reusable , eco-friendly alternative to disposable wrapping . You can use them over and over for years to come . Check out Where the Honey Runs
www . facebook . com / wherethehoneyruns Every new page “ Like ”, receives three complimentary 15 x 23cm gift sacks with your ordery . You can use them over and over for years to come .
The Christmas Table When gathered around the Christmas table to share the joy of a holiday meal , use real dishes and cloth napkins as they are not only classy but also environmentally friendly . These will last for years and can be washed rather than thrown away . Do your best not to buy more food than you need for a particular event . It ’ s a step towards being mindful about food waste . If there are leftovers , you can always make use of them in other ways . If possible , purchase produce grown locally and see if you can make some plantbased meals .
“ I feel like this year is the perfect year to redefine our priorities and set a new kind of celebration , don ’ t you ? After all , 2020 was quite unique and we have realised that we care more about being able to go on adventures , meet with our friends and enjoy life than we do about possessions ,” says Nathalie , mother of two and a low waste activist and blogger living in Hong Kong . She has a five-step plan to lighten up our Christmases , spend more time enjoying the holidays and less time cleaning and sorting .
1 . Reverse advent calendar
• Why : Declutter your home to make space for holiday cheer and gifts .
• How : Start by doing a reversed advent calendar concept in November . By December 1st clear your home of 25 objects . You can do this with your kids too . Go in every room and look for things kids have outgrown or that you haven ’ t used in a year .
• Go the extra mile : Donate , re-gift or recycle what you are getting rid of . You can donate toys to
www . pekesbags . com to give them a new life at Hong Kong ’ s second hand toys repair and rental service .
2 . Make your own advent calendar
• Why : To avoid unrecyclable , overpackaged ones .
• How : After all that cleaning up , this one is well deserved and you don ’ t have to be a DIY king or queen to get it right . Just chose 25 small gifts ( like chocolate , animal figurines , origami , jokes ) and write the numbers from 1 to 25 on 25 pieces of paper . Find 25 containers ( could be baby socks , jars , paper envelopes or jewellery pouches ) and chose where to display them in a creative way .
• DIY : The box concept is really cute and practical . Sew 25 pouches made of fabric scraps and clip the number on with a wooden clip then place them in a metallic tea box . Get your kids get to look for the correct number each morning .
70 www . playtimes . com . hk