More than half of Australians dreaming of a green Christmas

• • • • 1 in 8 (12%) will go meat-free this silly season
      • Gen Z (63%) is the most likely to make sustainable choices this year
      • How to reduce your carbon footprint this Christmas

8 December 2020, Sydney, Australia – With Christmas less than three weeks away, Aussies are swapping sleigh bells for sustainability, according to new research by Finder.

The Finder survey of 1,004 participants has revealed that 51% of respondents – equivalent to 9.9 million Australians – are planning to make environmentally conscious choices this Christmas.

Around 1 in 4 people (24%) will avoid disposable dinnerware, with that same number using recycled paper or gift bags to wrap presents.

1 in 10 (11%) have committed to only exchanging sustainable or non-physical gifts in an attempt to reduce waste.

A study conducted by ING in 2019 found that an estimated $400 million was spent on 10 million unwanted gifts last Christmas, much of which ended up in landfill.

Ben King, Finder's CSR manager, said that it's encouraging to see so many Aussies going green this year.

"Christmas and sustainability don't exactly go hand in hand. We tend to overeat and overspend, and this culture of holiday excess leads to an increase in landfill and food wastage.

"It's great to see that Aussies are becoming more conscious about their environmental impact, especially over the festive season.

"Even seemingly small measures like ditching plastic cutlery or reusing wrapping paper can make a big difference," King said.

The survey also found that 1 in 7 (14%) will deck the halls with solar-powered Christmas lights, while 12% will serve up a vegan or vegetarian menu.

Gen Z is leading the charge, with 63% planning to make sustainable choices this year, whereas just 40% of baby boomers intend to do the same.

Females (55%) are more likely than males (47%) to have a green Christmas.

Queensland residents are the most environmentally conscious, with over half (55%) planning to make sustainable choices over the holidays, followed by New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, all at 49% respectively.

King said that making sustainable choices can also be good for the bank balance.

"If you're unsure where to start, a good first step is to take a 'less is more' approach to your Christmas shopping."

"Instead of buying for the whole extended family, suggest doing Secret Santa or only buying for one person.

"Reducing our festive excess is the best gift we can give to the environment, as well as our wallets," King said.

For more information check out Finder's guide for going green at Christmas: https://www.finder.com.au/green/21-ways-sustainable-christmas

Source: Finder survey, November 2020

*Responses are tick all that apply

How to have a green Christmas

• Opt for environmentally conscious gifts. Gifts like house plants, fair trade products or reusable items like keep cups are a good option if you're stuck for ideas. If you want to avoid physical gifts altogether, consider gifting an experience instead.
• Consider a DIY Christmas. Handmade gifts are a great way to give your loved ones something unique that also minimises waste or packaging. Baked goods in a reusable container, a hand-decorated photo frame or a knitted scarf are a few ways you can do this – you can even get the kids involved!
• Avoid single-use products. Disposable dinnerware can be convenient for serving large groups and minimising washing up, but unfortunately these can add a lot of waste to the day. If your guests have young kids, encourage them to BYO their favourite plates and cups. Alternatively, opt for plates made from paper or bamboo.
• Set up a clear bin system. Make it part of your Christmas lunch preparation to set up clearly labelled bins for food scraps, recycling and rubbish. Not only is this good for the environment, but it will make your end-of-day clean-up a lot easier.