FESTIVE FOOD SHOPPING - SUSTAINABLY

Author: Rachel  Date Posted:21 December 2024 

Sustainable Shopping Made Easy By planning ahead, choosing sustainable packaging, supporting local businesses, and bringing your own reusables, you can easily reduce your impact this holiday season.

 

Sustainable Shopping for the Holidays

The holiday season is synonymous with celebrations, gifting, and—let's be honest—a bit of excess. But amidst the festivities, there’s also a chance to make more mindful, eco-friendly choices that reduce waste and leave a positive impact on the planet. With just a few small changes, you can transform your holiday grocery shop into a positive impact mission.

 

Sustainable Santa goes eco-friendly grocery shoppingPlan Ahead for Easy Eco-friendly Food Supplies

Planning is your best friend when it comes to sustainable shopping. The holidays often tempt us with dazzling deals and last-minute bargains, but impulse buys can lead to unnecessary waste.

Before heading out or shopping online, create a detailed list of what you truly need and (mostly) stick to it. Not only will this save you time and money, but it also helps avoid overbuying items that might end up unused or discarded.

If you’re buying groceries for holiday hosting, check your pantry and fridge first to avoid doubling up. Heck, it might be a good chance to give both a good old clean out! Who knows what’s back there?

Planning your meals also helps minimise food waste - an often-overlooked contributor to environmental harm. Once buried in the airless environment of landfill, food releases the potent greenhouse gas methane as it decomposes.

You can also reduce food waste by composting, either in the backyard or with a Council FOGO bin, freezing leftovers or giving remaining food to guests in a doggy bag.  

Once you've planned your meals, the next step is to consider how your groceries are packaged

 

Choose Sustainable Packaging

Packaging plays a big role in holiday waste. In fact, 40% of plastic waste comes from packaging and humans currently produce more than 350 million metric tons of plastic waste per year. highlighting the urgent need for change.

Instead of reaching for products wrapped in plastic, opt for items packaged in glass, paper, or other recyclable or compostable materials. These are easier to process and don’t contribute to the growing global plastic crisis. Plastic is not infinitely recyclable, and less than 10% gets recycled globally.

Bulk buying is another smart option: not only do you cut down on packaging waste, but it’s often more cost-effective too.

When stocking up on drinks or snacks for your celebrations, consider skipping individual bottles or cans. Large drink dispensers, kegs, or refillable containers are fantastic alternatives that cut down on single-use waste. Bonus points if you use reusable cups for serving - your guests will appreciate the eco-savvy touch!

 

Shopping for a festive meal can be sustainableSupport Local and Small Businesses

Holiday shopping is a great opportunity to support small, local businesses. Farmers’ markets, independent butchers, and bakeries often offer high-quality products with less packaging and are usually more accommodating to BYO containers to help you avoid single-use packaging waste. By shopping locally, you’re not only reducing your carbon footprint but also boosting your local community’s economy - win-win.

 

BYO Bags and Boxes

Reusable shopping bags are a staple for sustainable shopping, but in the holiday rush it’s easy to forget them. If you find yourself without your trusty totes, don’t fret. Grab a cardboard box from the store shelves or use paper mushroom bags for your fresh produce instead of plastic alternatives.

Keep compact reusable bags in your car, bag or backpack so you’re always prepared. This small habit can significantly reduce the need for single-use plastic bags.

And if you’re at the checkout before you realised you left them in the car, no problem. Just put the groceries straight back in the trolley and pack them back at the car!

 

Make Thoughtful Choices

The key to sustainable shopping is mindfulness. Beyond groceries, look for eco-friendly gifting options like experiences, handmade crafts, or items made from recycled or upcycled materials. When you’re intentional about what you buy and how it’s packaged, you’re taking meaningful steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

 

The Big Picture: A Greener Holiday Season

The holidays are about connection, joy, and generosity - values that extend naturally to caring for our planet. By planning ahead, choosing sustainable packaging, supporting local businesses, and bringing your own reusables, you’re setting an example that’s both impactful and inspiring.

This festive season, celebrate in a way that’s kind to the Earth and our communities. Happy eco-friendly shopping!

 

Looking for more ways to go green this holiday season? Check out our range of sustainable kitchen solutions.

 

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All our blog articles written by Rachel or our Guest Bloggers are well researched, shaped and reviewed by a real human person. We hope you have been informed, educated or entertained.

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