Win the War on Waste This Christmas

Could you win the war on waste this Christmas? Christmas is often a time of excess—excessive packaging, food, and waste. But what if you could help reduce waste this festive season? At Wasteless Pantry, we’ve been recognized as Waste Champions by the Waste Authority of WA, and we’ve learned that the true champions are the community members who lead by example in their everyday lives. There’s no better time to inspire others to embrace a low-waste lifestyle than during Christmas, when waste is at its peak.

Every year, millions of unwanted gifts are excessively packaged and wrapped, only to be stored away, regifted, or thrown out. Kerbside bins overflow with polystyrene, wrapping paper, packaging, wasted food, and plastic bags. Instead of contributing to the waste problem, let’s focus on creating a more enjoyable and sustainable holiday season. Here’s how you can win the war on waste this Christmas.

Plan Ahead for a Low-Waste Christmas

The key to reducing waste is all in the planning. Consider the type of Christmas you want to have: one filled with family traditions, time with loved ones, generosity, and relaxation. Keep your core values in mind when deciding what to buy or how to celebrate. It will help you realize that the $2 plastic toy may not align with your vision for a meaningful, low-waste holiday.

Tips for Reducing Waste This Christmas

Plan Your Meals
When planning Christmas meals, avoid over-catering. Plan for what will realistically fit on a plate rather than what your eyes may want to try. This will help reduce food waste and leftovers. If you do have leftovers, transform them into easy meals for later. Get creative, and you’ll save time and effort while minimizing waste.
Share the Load
Ask guests to bring containers for leftovers. This way, everyone can take home food, and you’ll reduce the chances of waste. Turn Christmas lunch leftovers into a simple dinner, and you’ve given the gift of a relaxing Boxing Day without any cooking required!
Use Reusable Containers
Serve your Christmas dishes in beautiful containers that also double as storage for leftovers. If food doesn’t make it to the fridge quickly and easily, it’s more likely to be thrown out. Avoid cling wrap, and opt for containers with lids to keep your food fresh.
Organize Your Bins
Make sure your recycling, composting, and reusing bins are clearly marked. Know what can be recycled locally to ensure that as little as possible ends up in landfill. Even better, encourage reuse—children often love playing with boxes and packaging, giving them a second life before they’re recycled.

Final Thoughts

Christmas doesn’t have to be wasteful. With a bit of planning and mindfulness, you can reduce waste, share the love, and enjoy a more sustainable holiday season. By focusing on eco-friendly traditions, reducing food waste, and eliminating excessive packaging, you’re not just giving to your loved ones—you’re also giving back to the planet.

Zero Waste Entertaining

The festive season is all about celebrating with good food and great company. As much as I love the idea of preparing a feast, I prefer meals that can be made ahead of time so I can spend more time connecting with guests and less time in the kitchen. With a little planning, you can entertain in a sustainable way by reducing waste and creating delicious, zero-waste meals. Here’s a simple, tried-and-true meal plan for your next gathering.

Starters

Dukkah, olive oil, and chunks of crusty bread
Zero waste tip: BYO containers to Wasteless Pantry for the dukkah and oil. Bring your reusable bread bag to the bakery for plastic-free bread, or better yet, make your own!
Soya crisps, Nordic crackers, corn chips, and smashed avocado
Add a little lemon juice to the avocado for a quick and tasty dip, and serve with rice cracker salad or mixed nuts.
Zero waste tip: BYO containers for snacks from Wasteless Pantry and use a reusable produce bag for the avocado. Serve the snacks in wide-mouthed upcycled jars—just pop the lid back on if they’re not finished, and nothing will go stale.

Main Course

Brown Rice Salad
Super easy to make in about 20 minutes, this salad is perfect for lunch leftovers in the days following your event. Soaking the rice overnight will reduce cooking time.
Zero waste tip: BYO containers for rice, seeds, currants, oil, and soy sauce. Use what you have on hand—swap red onion for shallots or sultanas for currants to minimize waste.
Roasted Vegetables
Roast whatever veggies you have available, even if they’re looking a bit limp.
Zero waste tip: Use reusable produce bags when shopping, and skip the peeling—just wash and roast. Reusable baking liners or a lightly oiled tray will eliminate the need for disposable baking paper.
Roasted Meat or Chicken Wings
Choose smaller cuts of meat to reduce cooking time and energy consumption, and serve with a variety of roasted vegetables.
Zero waste tip: Take your own container to the butcher to avoid plastic packaging. Encourage your guests to fill up on veggies for a healthier, lower-impact meal.

Dessert

Christmas Cake
This long-lasting cake (up to 3 months!) ensures you’ll always have something on hand for unexpected visitors.
Fruit Platter or Grilled Stone Fruit with Cinnamon Sugar
Zero waste tip: Buy in-season, local fruit to reduce food miles. Leftovers can be used for smoothies or fruit salad. Grab your cinnamon sugar from Wasteless Pantry in a reusable container—it’s a perfect match for grilled fruit.
Bliss Balls
These can be made ahead and frozen in batches, so you’re always prepared for last-minute gatherings.
Zero waste tip: Get creative with the ingredients—use up what’s already in your pantry, whether it’s macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, or dried apricots. Roll them in coconut or dip them in chocolate for an extra treat!

Final Thoughts

This zero-waste meal plan is customizable, simple, and delicious! It’s also an opportunity to showcase how easy it is to entertain sustainably. By sourcing ingredients from Wasteless Pantry and using reusable containers and produce bags, you’ll reduce packaging waste and food waste while enjoying a festive feast with friends and family.

Zero Waste Christmas Cake Recipe

Looking to bake a Christmas cake that’s not only delicious but also environmentally friendly? Try this old-fashioned Zero Waste Christmas Cake, the winning recipe from this year’s Wasteless Pantry Bake Off. With ingredients you can easily purchase packaging-free from Wasteless Pantry, this cake is a perfect treat for the holiday season. Plus, it can be stored for up to 3 months, ensuring you always have a festive dessert ready to share.

Ingredients:

510g sultanas
265g raisins
155g currants
150g pitted dates (chopped)
100g glace cherries (chopped)
75g dried cranberries
75g dried pineapple
50g mixed peel
185ml brandy (or substitute with orange juice for an alcohol-free version)
2 tsp finely grated orange rind
250g softened butter (can substitute canola oil for a dairy-free version)
200g brown sugar
4 eggs (or substitute with 4 tsp flaxseed meal mixed with 4 tbsp water for an egg-free version)
300g plain flour (or substitute gluten-free plain flour)
2 tsp mixed spice
Blanched almonds & cherries for decoration
2 tbsp brandy to drizzle (optional)

Method:

Macerate the Fruit
In a large bowl, combine the sultanas, raisins, currants, dates, glace cherries, cranberries, dried pineapple, mixed peel, and brandy (or orange juice). Cover with a lid and let it sit for 2 days to allow the fruit to soak up the flavors.
Prepare the Cake Pan
Grease a 22cm cake pan and line the base with a reusable tray liner or grease a springform pan. Preheat the oven to 150°C.
Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs (or flaxseed mixture) one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix the Cake Batter
Stir the butter mixture into the macerated fruit mixture. Then add the flour and mixed spice, folding until just combined.
Fill the Cake Pan
Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan, tapping the pan lightly on the benchtop to release any air bubbles. Arrange the blanched almonds and cherries on top for decoration.
Bake the Cake
Cover the cake pan with a larger cake tin (to prevent the top from browning too much) and bake for 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours at 150°C.
Finish the Cake
If desired, drizzle the hot cake with an additional 2 tbsp of brandy. Allow the cake to cool thoroughly in the pan before turning it out.
Storage
Store the cake in an airtight, dark container for up to 3 months, allowing the flavors to develop over time.

Benefits of Shopping at Wasteless Pantry

By purchasing your ingredients from Wasteless Pantry, you’ll minimize packaging waste and support a sustainable lifestyle. Bring your own containers to refill with dried fruits, flour, sugar, spices, and other essentials. With eco-friendly alternatives available for all your baking needs, you can enjoy a delicious Christmas cake while reducing your environmental impact.

Wasteless Pantry makes it easy to live a zero-waste lifestyle, offering bulk ingredients that help you avoid unnecessary plastic packaging and minimize food waste. Plus, buying only what you need ensures that your pantry stays organized and nothing goes to waste.