ARRCC encourages supporters to consider their ecological footprint during their end of year celebrations.

Meat-Free Meals

As part of ARRCC's Eat Less Meat campaign, we encourage supporters to consider reducing their meat consumption this festive season by serving meat -free to family and friends. If you can't imagine your festive feat without the traditional turkey or seafood bbq, then consider serving the one meat dish surrounded by a number of delicious vegetarian dishes.

Check out this mouth-watering, vegetarian version of Act For Peace's Christmas Bowl Cookbook. (While the Christmas Bowl is a Christian campaign, the cookbook features many delicious recipes from all around the world, suitable for many different traditions! Christians may be interested in finding out more about the Christmas Bowl campaign). 

ARRCC together with the Buddhist Council of NSW has also produced a poster that you could print out and have in your house inviting people to reflect on our food choices. 

Reduce your consumption

Over the festive season it's easy to get into a shopping frenzy, however everything we buy represents an investment in energy and water, and an output of greenhouse gas. There are lots of interesting ways to give presents that show friends, family and colleagues that your care for them and for the planet. They may well save you money too.

Some easy ways to reduce your consumption are set out below. Click on the links below for more information from Planet Ark's website.

• Hand making cards from scratch, or recycling last year's cards. 

• Wrapping presents in recycled gift wrap, or in newspapers, old maps, Sunday comics, old sheets of music or even old fabrics. Alternatively use brown paper and a colourful bow. You can also use kids' artwork a perfect wrapping for presents to proud grandparents. Finally, consider wrapping that can be reused, such as a scarf, bandanna, calico bag or tea towel. 

• Hand making decorations , or buying good quality ones that can be reused for many years. If you have perfectly good decorations but are just looking for a different look this year, why not swp yours with family and friends? 

• In addition to considering meat-free meals, ensure you don't waste food by carefully considering how much you will really need, and find inventive ways to serve up leftovers in the following days. Also look try to buy food with minimal packacing that is made from recylaed materials and is also recyclable. 

• During your parties, choose re-usable plates and cutlery , or alternatively select bamboo and palm leaf picnic plates and bowls that can be reused several times then composted at the end of the season.

• Remember to recycle all of your party hats, empty champagne bottles, corks, beer bottles, aluminium cans, fruit mince pie trays and biscuit tins. 

• Don't let the festive season blow out your energy use . At home or away, keep up with energy efficient practices while on holiday.  And while most of us know that water is precious, when we're on holidays we can forget to keep our water use in mind. Whether you're at home or elsewhere, do some of the little things to help conserve this precious resource. 

• If you're going on holidays, consider how you'll be travelling there. (Transport is the second largest contributor to climate change!!)  It's important not only to travel safely, but also to travel in a way that is as safe as possible for the planet.