How to have a sustainable Chinese New Year 2023

Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, is the festival that celebrates prosperity and abundance at the start of the new year. It is also perfect for spending quality time with your loved ones and indulging in scrumptious festive foods, but it also invites an ugly contribution to excessive waste. Make an effort this year and celebrate Chinese New Year in a greener and more sustainable way!

Don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips to make your Chinese New Year celebration more environmentally friendly.

 

Spring Cleaning

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Rather than throwing your unwanted items away, consider giving them to your neighbours or donating them to Salvation Army. Consider it a way to spread festive cheer during Lunar New Year. You can even make this a habit once the festivities end!

 

Ang Baos

Change things up this Chinese New Year by giving out electronic red packets instead of physical ones. This will contribute to reducing waste and lowering your carbon footprint. 

 

Decorations

Start buying decorations with no prints of this year’s zodiac so you can use them again next year. Buy decorations that do not need adhesive and can be easily stored and reused. Red lanterns, for example, can be flattened and put away for another year.

 

New Clothes

Being sustainable doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable. As part of the Chinese New Year tradition, new clothes are bought to symbolise a new beginning and better times. However, fast fashion and fashion waste pose a vast global problem. Instead of buying new clothes, try swapping your clothes at stores like The Fashion Pulpit to discover hidden gems.

 

Food Waste

Food waste is a severe problem during Chinese New Year celebrations. We tend to over-order food or prepare too much to finish in one sitting. That becomes a problem when you have a mound of perishables that go to waste.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) says the total food waste generated in 2021 was 817,000 tonnes, 23 per cent more than the 665,000 tonnes generated in 2020.

To avoid food waste, you can donate leftovers, evaluate the previous year’s food waste, and calculate the amount of food that should be bought. The Food Bank Singapore accepts donations of unopened and packaged food items, distributing them to households in need. Food from the Heart accepts donations of non-perishable food items and distributes them to welfare organisations, families in need, and individuals.

Or, we could consume less; it’s simple.

 

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