5 tips for ethical gift giving this Christmas

At ChildFund, we’re all about giving gifts this Christmas that don’t end up in the garbage or forgotten by February. There are many thoughtful and cost-effective ways to show your love and appreciation for your friends and family members, while also being ethical. You just need to know where to start and what to look out for.

To help, we’re sharing five easy ways to be more ethical this festive season , including meaningful gift ideas that could bring a lifetime of joy to children and families in need.

Here are our top five tips:

1. Avoid gift vouchers

Did you know that Australians waste $70 million every year on unused gift cards? Don’t be caught throwing your money down the drain this Christmas. Instead, why not buy a present that can transform the life of a child, their family and community? Our Gifts for Good catalogue is full of ethical and life-changing Christmas gift options for you to choose from, including:

• Gift school supplies : A variety of educational supplies to help a disadvantaged child learn.
• Gift bikes and helmets : These will make a child’s journey to school easier, shorter and safer.
• Gift fruit trees and vegetable seeds : Fight child hunger with a lasting source of delicious and nutritious food.

2. Recycle your wrapping paper

Speaking of waste, wrapping paper certainly doesn’t help matters. But you can reduce, reuse and recycle your festive paper this year by making more conscious choices. Here are some of our top tips:

1. The Scrunch Test

Wrapping paper can be recycled if it passes the ‘Scrunch Test’ – if your wrapping paper can be made into a ball, and stay that way, then it’s a safe bet for recycling. (Note: Plain paper can be recycled, but foil or glitter-decorated paper needs to go in the general waste!) Alternatively, opt for festive recycled paper. You can find some fun Aussie-recycled wrapping paper on Buy Eco Green .

1. Check your paper (and then check it again)

To make sure your recycling doesn’t end up in landfill, remove any sticky tape and decorations, such as ribbons and bows, as these can’t be recycled. It takes two minutes!

1. No wrapping necessary

Giving a Gift for Good, such as a bike, this Christmas cuts down on rubbish presents and helps change a child’s life.