Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas For New Zealanders
Christmas gifting can be stressful, expensive, and wasteful. Ever since I’ve approached gifting with a sustainable mindset, Christmas gifting has been joyful, cheaper, and with little to no waste in sight! I actually enjoy it!
This blog post explains how I handle Christmas gifting in my family and includes 25+ ideas for your sustainable Christmas gifting this year.
My Christmas Gifts
For the past two years, both my family and Tim’s (my husband) family have used DrawNames; a (free!) secret Santa generator. One person loads up everyone’s names, fills in any exceptions (e.g. settings that mean partners don’t buy for each other), and sets the budget. Each person is emailed, draws a name, and fills in their own wishlist. My wishlist this year includes GoodFor e-gift cards (a package-free store), kitchen scales for measuring small quantities, vegetable seeds, and a book by Sally Rooney. My sister-in-law was the first to suggest this secret Santa concept, and it has been a total hit! Each person receives a high-value gift they truly wanted, rather than the classic flurry of gifts that are thrown around at most Christmas events, likely ending up in the junk cupboard.
Two years ago, my family opted for gifts of service only. We gifted each other experiences and services that we were able to offer. No wrapping was involved, only handmade cards were passed around. For example, Tim and I gave my mum and dad a voucher for a vacuum and bathroom clean (by us, not professionals). My sister gave us a voucher for her to make Tim and me a lovely meal, set up a romantic spot, and leave.
One year I gave my sister’s partner carbon offsets for his upcoming travel.
My mother-in-law has knitted us dishcloths in the past. My sister-in-law once gave me a plum tree.
One Christmas, we played the present game: everyone bought one gift (must be secondhand or consumable) and put it in the middle of the circle. Each person had a turn at either taking a present from the middle of the circle or stealing a present from another person (the gift could go through 3 people before it was LOCKED IN and could no longer be stolen!). This not only made for a HILARIOUS Christmas Day activity, but it meant we ended up with gifts we wanted, or were able to happily re-gift the items no one needed.
One of my favourite years (Christmas 2019) was the time we all brought an activity to Christmas day. The highlight of the day for everyone, was my brother and his partner hosting acro-yoga classes on the lawn!
Other ideas include:
DIY, handmade presents only
Giving back only (e.g. donating to charities on everyone’s behalf)
Food only
The promise of quality time (a highly sort after resource at the moment)
Whatever you choose this year, keep in mind the benefits that can come from a sustainable Christmas gifting strategy. Everyone saves money, your house isn’t trashed with wrapping paper, people can contribute to making Christmas Day food (more time on their hands!), and greater joy is had (spending time with people brings more sustained happiness than stuff).
Note: This list was last updated on October 29th 2021. It will be updated with more ideas leading up to Christmas!
Experiences
Outdoor Adventures
Think ziplining, sailing cruise, rock climbing, electric-bike tour. Consider the natural wonders local to the person you’re buying for and choose one that your adventurous gift receiver will love.
Beauty/health
A massage, spa day, manicure, pedicure, yoga class, wellness retreat (if you’re feeling super generous)… often we don’t buy ourselves these things, so they make the perfect present.
Lessons
Encourage your gift receiver to learn something new! Arrange a surfing lesson with a professional. Book them into a singing lesson, pay for local language lessons, sign them up for an online workshop, or even a First Aid Course if that’s their thing.
Hospitality
Gift the experience of a delicious dinner out or brunch at their favourite spot. Purchase a voucher from the place directly, or use SOS- they offer vouchers for hospitality joints regardless of lockdown alert levels, that can be used whenever the place is open.
Photoshoot
Hunt down a local photographer and book your gift receiver in for a photoshoot with their loved ones. It’s not only a brilliant experience (they’ll have fun in a studio or at an outdoor location of their choice), but they’ll have photos to treasure forever.
Services
Cleaning
Treat your friend or family member to a car clean, house clean, or anything clean.
Gardener
Support a local landscaping business by booking a few hours of their time to make your gift receiver’s garden look a million bucks.
Childcare
I have yet to meet a parent who turns down the option for a night off! Find a trusted childminder or childcare service.
Maintenance
It may sound boring, but this will definitely save your friend or family member money! Gift them a service of something they love and use- like their sewing machine or car. Find someone who can restore or revamp it so it’s fresh!
Expertise
This idea is perfect for small business owners; gift them the service of an expert who can input into their business. For example, my family purchased business coaching lessons for me in 2018.
Consumables
Flowers
Choose a dried flower arrangement (like these beauties from Jane Smith Florals that last 6-12 months), a bunch from your local florist, or a floral plant from a nursery. The floral industry has a big footprint, so make sure you ask where they were grown (local please!) and how (no/less chemicals).
Food
Most people love a good wine (27 Seconds Wine ends slavery and Zeffer Cider do a Plum Crumble flavour) or a bundle of their favourite foods. Look for local companies with Christmas bundles and treats.
Beauty Products
Beauty products are an epic way to inspire sustainable living while gifting something that the receiver doesn’t have to hold onto if it doesn’t work for them. Ethique offers exceptional gifting bundles of beauty bars.
Food Vouchers
Vouchers for wholefood, package-free stores are the way to go: GoodFor have stores in the main cities, and ship nationwide. They offer e-gift cards or physical gift cards.
Toys
Adult colouring, sudoku, and crossword books are underrated. These gifts are great for immediate use during the Christmas holidays!
Subscriptions
Seeds & Plants
Little Gem Seeds, PlantMe & Flora have great options for simple subscriptions that arrive in cute brown paper packages and are suitable for experienced gardeners or aspiring green fingers.
Magazine
Most magazines have subscriptions options. Pick one that suits your budget (e.g. 3 months or 6 months) and sign them up. Choose online if possible - save the paper! Good Magazine is a personal favourite.
Recipes/Food boxes
A subscription to an online recipe site or local food box delivery! If you’re in Auckland, Perfectly Imperfect are a great option (rescue wasted food).
Household Goods
Whatever it is, you can probably find a subscription option for it. Think outside the box! We get our dog food & toilet paper through a subscription service. Solid Oral Care ofter a toothpaste and toothbrush subscription too. Check how the company ships (plastic-free please!) and make sure it’s definitely coming from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Items
Wellness Cards
Hummingly offers incredible resources (a simple pack of cards) created by experts to guide people through life, the pandemic, & other life disasters. They’re helpful, beautiful, & could be life-changing.
Kids Toys
You can get away with buying non-tangible gifts for adults, but sometimes it’s a little harder to avoid kids toys. If, like me, you want to spoil the little people in your life with something fun, opt for sustainably made toys! My go-tos are The Natural Co, Fairplay, and A Little Wild. EcoSplat also have epic reusable water balloons!
Giving Back
Good Registry
Purchase a gift voucher from the Good Registry that your gift receiver can choose to spend on a variety of charities of their choice.
Global Aid
A World Vision ‘Smiles’ gift can allow you to pass on the gift of a goat, chicken, or even fund a veggie garden for someone who needs it! Oxfam has a brilliant “Sustainable Food Bundle” that provides support to farmers and communities as they cultivate their knowledge of fruit and veggie farming, and learn how to turn their produce into a fruitful source of income.
Trees & Offsetting
Give someone a tree (that will be planted somewhere helpful), offset their driving emissions, or even offset their entire carbon footprint for the year! co-benefits have great emission offsetting gifts, Trees That Count have brilliant tree planting initiatives, and EKOS are great too.