For me, Christmas is the best time of year. I get to see my family, relax, catch up with friends and, best of all, watch as shopfronts, streets and homes transform into glittering places of red, green and white! However, I’m also conscious of how much waste seems to come from this one day. We gush over new clothes, toys and gadgets but in the wake of our giddy euphoria, we leave a path of reindeer wrapping paper, opened bon bons and discarded lolly wrappers. This Christmas, spare a thought for the planet as well as your hip pocket and invest in items that’ll not only put a smile on your face but Mother Nature’s too!

Instead of the usual plastic tree, why not try one of these colourful handcrafted trees from Eco Chic? Created by artist Trudy Forrest from the Northern Rivers of NSW, these clever creations are made from old broken timber pallets that are torn up and re-made into these funky trees.

Finished with a few coats of water-based paints in a variety of colours, like white cherry red, dandelion yellow, mint green and fuchsia, they are then hand-rubbed back to give that vintage shabby chic look. They come in two sizes: tall (210 cm x 90cm wide x 5cm thick) for $330 or short (150cm x 70cm wide x 5cm thick) for $250. Visit www.ecochic.com.au for more information.

Inspired by the environment, Elizabeth Young and her husband Tim created Flourish Bomboniere. They produce lovely plant creations that are beautifully packaged for weddings or simply as gifts. The idea is that guests will plant their little gift in the garden or a small pot, so that it can be cherished for years to come. From as little as $7, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. This is the Orange Jasmine plant with Christmas greeting for $8.50. Visit www.flourishbomboniere.com.au to see the other varieties.

By Danielle Hanrahan