The most beautifully wrapped gift with 96% less waste.

It’s nice when a gift is wrapped but is it worth the 50,000 trees[1] that are killed for Christmas gift wrap in Australia each year? Is there a way we can have our gift wrap and our trees too? Group gifting website GroupTogether.com says yes. Give one fabulous group gift instead. For example, if a school class gives the teacher a group gift instead of 25 individual ones, you’ve reduced packaging waste by 96%.

In addition, you can each spend less and buy something that’s actually wanted – a kindle instead of 25 hand creams and mugs! The good news here is that GroupTogether.com will do the heavy lifting for you. One person sets up the collection online in two minutes and shares the link. You click to pay and add a personal message and photo to the printable card. It makes a nice keepsake.

It begs the question, what do teachers want anyway?

GroupTogether conducted a survey of over 250 teachers nationally in 2016/7. Most teachers were at pains to say they do not expect anything and would value a card with some words of gratitude. However, 74.5% said if you’re going to fork out for a gift, a group gift from the class for a voucher is best.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise given that 78.5% of Australians have received a gift they didn’t want and 13.7% throw the unwanted gift away[2] – more landfill!

Quick stats:

Each tonne of paper that is recycled saves: almost 13 trees, 2.5 barrels of oil, 4100 kWh of electricity, 4 cubic metres of landfill and 31, 780 litres of water.

Most wrapping paper is difficult to recycle due to the dying and lamination. So it ends up in landfill.

Aussies spending $500 million on greeting cards and $100 million on gift wrappings each year[3].

Ideas for gifts that don’t need gift wrap.

Organise a voucher from a group with GroupTogether  They’ll email you the voucher. The great thing is that it’s an e-voucher so once it’s emailed to the recipient, it’s always in their phone – not at home when they need it!

Vouchers available –

David Jones, Endota Spa, Coles, JB Hifi, Rebel, BCF

Certificates
Baby-sitting, taking out the garbage, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, or cleaning the car.

Trips/Outings
Museums, parks, beaches, hikes, full moon walks, or winter picnics.

Hand Made Gifts
Fill a basket with baked goods, assemble a collection of favorite family recipes, make a holiday bouquet from fresh greens, holly, etc. and tie with bow, make Christmas ornaments from family photos, or video tape family members telling favorite family stories/memories.

Tickets
Movie, concert or sports tickets.

Gift Certificates
Restaurants, record stores, book stores, video rental stores, department stores, or grocery stores.

Memberships
Health spas, swim clubs, museums, zoos, or amusement parks.

Subscriptions
Magazines, newspapers, book clubs, or flower of the month club.

Gifts for Children
“Dress Up Box”.

Gifts to the Environment
Send e-greetings to family and friends who are on-line, buy a living Christmas tree and replant after the holidays, buy live plants, gardening tools, bird seed, battery charger with rechargeable batteries, bus/light rail/train passes, bicycles or walking shoes.

[1] https://www.australianethical.com.au/news/10-tips-more-environmentally-friendly-christmas/

[2] Australian survey by McCrindle Research – http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/media/give-back-to-the-environment-this-christmas.html

[3] http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/city/recycle-your-christmas-cards-and-wrapping-paper-to-save-the-environment/news-story/f243cede64bb9afa4103999f803d6ea2