And we’re back. Many of us have barely caught our breath since Christmas 2024, yet the season to be jolly has snuck up on us again. Amongst the parties, feasts, and gift-giving rests a small and inconvenient truth: most of us will spend too much and add too many new things to homes already bursting at the seams. From toys to trinkets, and devices to appliances, we’ll either be the giver or receiver of new and shiny goods. Not only are these financially taxing, but many of the things about to enter our homes are not very good for the environment. Temu, Amazon Prime, AliExpress, and Kmart are fantastic for cheap thrills, but are detrimental to our environment and health.
Before you polish off your shopping list, let’s take a quick look at some tips and tricks to reduce your impact this Christmas.
What’s in the box?
There are two important factors to consider when looking at your future purchases: where it’s coming from and what it’s made from.
From factory to your doormat: an origin story that matters
Most of the goods you purchase online, or even from brick-and-mortar shops, are primarily manufactured in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia. Poor working conditions and low wages are notorious across the spectrum of manufacturing industries. Workers are often exposed to toxic chemicals, dangerous conditions, and long work hours.
The factories and manufacturing processes usually fall well short of Australian standards for safety, emissions, and quality. While Australia has a strong import and customs process, countless items slip through the system that are not fit for purchase or use.
Finally, the import process is incredibly detrimental to our environment. Warehousing, global shipping, last-mile delivery, packaging, and returns generate lots of greenhouse gases (GHG) and waste. One analysis found that shipping and returns alone account for 37 per cent of total GHG emissions from online shopping. Online shopping tends to generate far more packaging waste than traditional in-store retail. Research suggests e-commerce can produce about 4.8 times more packaging waste. Packaging utilises a mix of materials (plastics, laminates, foams, and adhesives) that are difficult or impossible to recycle. This drives solid waste and eventually landfill or pollution.
Do you know what your goods are made of?
In a recent investigation, authorities tested children’s clothes sold via Temu and AliExpress. Some items contained toxic chemicals far above safety limits. One tested jacket1 had phthalate levels 622 times above legal limits, and elevated lead and cadmium levels, too. These substances have known health risks, including reproductive harm and cancer.
Cheap materials and manufacturing may rely on harmful dyes, fixatives, or synthetics that pose long-term health or environmental risks through skin contact, leached chemicals, or microplastic shedding2.
Overconsumption hurts all of us
We’ve heard the term ‘fast fashion’ for years, and it has never been truer. Our love for cheap clothes has extended to cheap knick-knacks, devices, and everything in between. We spent $69 billion on online sales in 2024, and 2025 is shaping up to be much the same. Our insatiable desire to add to cart is driving up greenhouse gas emissions as well as inflation. Factory workers across the globe face increasing pressure that results in poorer conditions.
Simply put, we are facing a crisis of overconsumption.
How to buck the trend this Christmas
It’s easy enough to say that you’ll buy less this Christmas, but then the work parties, family dinners, and kids’ wish lists enter the chat. Let’s take a look at some practical steps to reduce your impact:
- Shop local and skip long freight: Buying Aussie-made cuts the emissions from global shipping. It also supports local makers who actually care about what they produce.
- Give experiences instead of stuff: Concert tickets, massages, zoo passes, or a weekend picnic. Experiences create memories, not clutter.
- Wrap smarter, not shinier: Skip the glossy wrap. Use kraft paper, saved gift bags, tea towels or kids’ artwork. It looks great and avoids plastic waste.
- Buy second-hand or upcycled gifts: Op-shops and online marketplaces can deliver absolute gems. Pre-loved toys, books, bikes and furniture all reduce resource demand.
- Use decorations you already own: Reuse the same tree, ornaments and lights each year. If you need extras, choose wooden, metal, or fabric options that last for decades.
- Plan low-waste Christmas meals: Shop with a list, portion sensibly, and freeze leftovers. Food waste is a massive emissions driver, so keep it tight and tasty.
- Choose rechargeable or battery-free gifts: Avoid toys and gadgets that chew through disposable batteries. If you must buy battery-powered gear, bundle in a pack of rechargeables.
- Avoid fast-fashion party outfits: Grab a timeless outfit you’ll wear again, or borrow from a mate. One-wear sequin dresses are rough on your wallet and the planet.
- Consolidate your shopping trips: If you can’t shop online from local suppliers, bundle errands into one trip. Fewer kilometres means fewer emissions.
- Know what you’re buying: Research and read reviews – look up material lists and country of origin. Opt for products with proven quality checks and safe materials.
- Quality over quantity: If your kids are like mine, they probably want 20 squishmallows. Purchasing one or two quality presents over multiple cheap ones will save your wallet, your space, and the environment.
Make this Christmas lighter on your wallet and the environment
A lower-impact Christmas doesn’t mean a boring one. It just means being a bit more thoughtful with what you buy, how you wrap it, and where it all ends up. Small choices add up fast, and your future self will thank you when the bins aren’t overflowing and your bank account isn’t crying in the corner.
Keeping things simple, choosing durable gifts, and cutting back on waste helps the planet, but it also trims your December blowout. Even shifting a few habits can dial down the stress and boost the joy. After all, the season is meant for connection, not clutter.
