The eco guide to gift giving this Christmas
For most of us, nothing quite beats the gift of giving.
Quick, easy and convenient, gift cards have become an increasingly popular product for Australians. For the past two decades, plastic gift cards have dominated the market, however, in the last 12 months, there has been a swing in a new direction with many going digital.
The current estimation of the Australian gift card market is approximately $4.5 billion annually and digital gift cards are predicted to overtake plastic ones this Christmas.
The majority of plastic gift cards contain polyvinyl chloride, a plastic that contains pollutants that are harmful to the environment and is slow to decompose. Each year in Australia, we generate an average of two tonnes of industrial, commercial and domestic waste with most of it ending up in landfill.
Digital gift cards can be bought online meaning no more plastic waste, no more postage costs and best of all they are delivered instantly. This is not only a win for users but means millions of tonnes of plastic waste can be avoided, reducing the impacting on our environment every year.
With Christmas fast approaching, here is a list of tips to finding the perfect gift - and making green gifting easier:
Conscious gifting
Take care of last-minute gifting ideas and give the gift of choice. Gift cards are now the most preferred present and sending gift cards has never been easier. The Prezzee Swap Card allows the recipient to choose the gift card of their choice from a great selection of Australian retailers like David Jones, Myer, JB HiFi, Flight Centre, Priceline, Dymocks, Pandora and more. With the convenience of storing your gift cards on your smart phone (Prezzee also has a free App) you will never miss an opportunity to redeem your gift card again.
Know what to recycle
When it comes to any occasion, it is important to know what can and cannot be recycled. The best way to check this is to look for the recycling symbol on the packaging, especially on products made of plastic.
Recharge it
This Christmas, try purchasing gifts that come with rechargeable batteries. They will not only save the environment from more harmful waste, but it will save you money as well.
