How to have an ethical Christmas
It’s the season for family get-togethers, scrumptious meals, and cricket on the beach. But of course, as every Christmas movie tells us, there is a deeper meaning to the holiday.
At fair&good we believe that the Christmas season should be a time to love our neighbours, give from the heart, and practice kindness and empathy. We all have room to grow in these areas, and the good news is, we can easily adopt them into our regular Christmas traditions.
Here are some tips to help make your Christmas a little more ethical:
Support makers
As you're shopping for gifts this season, it’s important to think about the person behind the product. Many companies around the world mistreat their workers with low pay and poor working conditions.
When you buy one of those products, you’re supporting those practices with your dollars.
Luckily, there are tons of alternatives from companies that treat their workers well and empower makers in their community.
At The Loyal Workshop in India, individual artists etch their name onto every product they create. So when you buy a quality leather belt or satchel from them, you are also making a connection with a fellow human being.
Connections like these go a long way towards making the world a kinder place, because when people are seen their needs can be met.
Karma Drinks support cola farmers in Sierra Leone.
You can browse fair&good’s ethical directory to find products you’ll love and brands you can feel good about supporting.
Give twice
Some brands go the extra mile and give a portion of their profits to charity. That means you, as a purchaser, get to give twice! Once to your loved one, and once to someone in need.
Charity Tea, for example, donates $1 to feed hungry children in NZ and Haiti for every packet of tea purchased. And 27seconds wine gives 100% of its profits to help survivors of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
27seconds wine give 100% of their profits to Hagar, a charity that supports survivors of human trafficking.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Part of caring for each other is taking care of the planet we share. Christmas generates heaps of extra rubbish from packaging, to gift wrap, to Christmas trees.
As much as you can, try to find ways to reduce your waste this season. Reuse old gift-bags and repurpose fabrics and papers around the house when you wrap your presents. And invest in items that will stand the test of time. For example, ethical toy brand, Fairplay, makes a lovely, handcrafted Advent Calendar that can be reused every year, replacing one-use paper versions.
Making your own Christmas decorations is another way to cut-down on excess waste and plastic. Plus it’s a fun tradition for the whole family to spend time creating dried fruit garlands or origami ornaments. Check out Tulips and a Toolbox on instagram for unique, sustainable decoration ideas.
Feast responsibly
It’s easy to get carried away when shopping for your big Christmas meal, but you can minimise waste by creating a meal plan with realistic proportions. And consider sharing or freezing your leftovers when you’ve had enough ham and cherries for a while.
You can also look out for sustainable versions of your favourite foods and drinks. Karma Drinks, for example, offers organic, fairtrade sodas and juices that support farmers in Sierra Leone. And Ceres Organics allows you to shop for a wide array of quality, sustainable foods from the comfort of your own home!
Donate
Of course, the most straightforward way to make your Christmas more ethical is to give without receiving. Whether you’re donating time at your local food bank or donating funds to your favourite charity, you’ll be doing your part to make this world a little more merry and bright!
