Low-waste Christmas

A person creates a natural Christmas wreath decoration with pinecones, branches and dried fruit.

Make this Christmas low waste – save money, reduce stress and help the planet by cutting out waste.

Did you know?

  • In the week after Christmas, Kiwis send 50,000 extra tonnes of waste to landfill.
  • Every Christmas, we use 1,600 tonnes of wrapping paper – that’s the equivalent of 10,000 trees.
  • Plus, 25,000 tonnes of plastic packaging is expected to be used across Aotearoa.

It’s time for a rethink. Choose gifts, wrapping and celebrations that create memories, not waste.

Celebrate a low-waste Christmas with the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Thoughtful gifting

  • Choose gifts that create little or no waste, can be reused, or recycled at the end of their life.
  • Embrace the #BuyNothingNew challenge – hunt for pre-loved treasures or upcycled gems at your local op shops.
  • If buying new, shop local and look for products with minimal packaging.
  • Give experiences instead of things – movie tickets, concert passes, meal vouchers, or gifts that last.
  • Handmade gifts carry extra meaning – think soaps, cookies, preserves or crafts. Upcycle items from op shops for a unique touch.
  • Donate to a charity in someone’s name for a gift that gives back.
  • For gardeners, gift seeds from local produce or flowers.

Wrap smarter

  • Use reusable or recyclable wrapping like fabric, newspapers or brown paper. Avoid glossy or metallic paper – they can’t be recycled.
  • Try furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping gifts in reusable cloth – beautiful and eco-friendly. 
  • Present gifts in reusable bags or baskets that can be repurposed later.

Natural decorations

  • Decorate with nature – pinecones, branches, fresh flowers – all compostable after use.
  • DIY decorations from recycled materials or items you already own.
  • Make stockings from fabric scraps or repurposed materials.

Christmas tree choices

  • Prefer a real tree? Choose one locally sourced and compostable, or a potted tree you can plant later.
  • If opting for artificial, pick one sturdy enough to last for years.
  • Or get creative – make a tree from driftwood or beach finds.

Waste-free feasting

  • Plan meals to avoid food waste – buy only what you need and reinvent leftovers. Check out Love Food Hate Waste NZ for recipes: 
    Love Food Hate Waste NZ recipes (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz) 
  • Hosting a big family meal? Buy in bulk to cut packaging waste.
  • After making stock from bones, pop leftovers in your food-scraps bin.
  • Heading to a BBQ? Bring a plate – and your own dishes and cutlery to skip single-use items. Worried about leaving good plates? Op shops have plenty of affordable crockery.

Eco-friendly parties

  • Use reusable plates or serve food on cloth napkins instead of plastic.
  • Offer tap water or buy drinks in large bottles or cans – then recycle the cans.
  • Encourage guests to bring reusable containers for leftovers.

Cards and invitations

  • Go digital with e-cards or online invites.
  • Prefer paper? Choose eco-friendly cards or ones embedded with seeds that can be planted.

Be a good sort

  • Our rubbish and recycling teams work through the holidays (except Christmas Day) – give them the gift of correctly sorted waste! Please check:
    Rubbish and recycling  
  • Rinse containers to avoid contamination and recycle only plastics numbered 1, 2 or 5 (check the triangle symbol), cans and tins. Remove lids.

Join the movement! Share your #LowWasteXmas and make memories, not waste.

Meri Kirihimete!

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