Living Laudato Si’ at Christmas

Goal 4 – Adopting a sustainable life with emphasis on 5s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
The following is adopted from the Brisbane Archdiocese Laudato Si’ Action Plan and may help you celebrate Christmas with a focus on an ethically sound Christmas which has a positive impact on the world.

Last Minute Presents

1. Shop locally to support small businesses. This also helps reduce the carbon footprint of shipping products over long distances.

2. Buy Ethical Gifts – Buy fair-trade products or handmade items.

3. Charity Shopping – Shop at charity shops, where you can find unique and budget-friendly gifts while helping support their cause.

4. Gifts with a difference - Create your own homemade gifts – baked goods or craft. Give gifts which focus on an experience or time together.

5. Donate to Charity – Consider donating to a charity in someone's name eg Water for Malawi or Caritas.

Wrapping

1. Reduce Packaging – Buy gifts with minimal packaging or wrap presents using eco-friendly materials like reusable cloth gift bags, wrap gifts in scarves, tea towels or other fabric that can be reused or use recycled paper.

2. Choose Sustainable Christmas Cards - Send e-cards or cards made from recycled materials. Alternatively, make your own cards from repurposed materials.

Decorations

1. Use eco-friendly or reusable decorations. Use LED lights,

2. Buy a potted Christmas Tree.
   Avoid glitter items for they contribute to microplastic problems.

Catering

1. If you enjoy baking at Christmas, consider giving a food gift to a neighbour or someone in need near you.

2. Cook for the number of people who are coming - don’t overcook. If there is food left over send your guests home with take home packs to reduce food wastage.

3. Use washable napkins and tablecloths, rather than paper disposables.

4. Find ways to celebrate vegetarian options to reduce the focus on meat.

5. Do your food shopping for Christmas at your local farmers markets to reduce the carbon footprint.

6. Buy food in season and celebrate being Australian.

General Hint

Practice Gratitude - Encourage gratitude by starting a tradition where everyone at your Christmas gatherings shares something they are thankful for over the year.

Let’s try and consciously incorporate more ethical and sustainable practices into your holiday celebrations. Every small step count, collectively, these actions can positively impact your footprint.

A last word from Pope Francis - “There are no lasting changes without cultural changes, without a maturing of lifestyles and convictions within societies, and there are no cultural changes without personal changes.” (Laudate Deum, paragraph 7)