The Top Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas For New Zealanders In 2024
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 gift ideas this holiday season.
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 (use my ‘Best Fruit & Vegetable Boxes blog’)
The promise of quality time (a highly sort after resource at the moment)
Sustainable gifts only (read my blog for 100+ sustainable Christmas gift ideas)
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! Read my blog full of the best vegetable and fruit boxes here.
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 Sustained Fun and Fairplay.
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! Trees That Count have brilliant tree planting initiatives and EKOS are great too.
Sustainable Christmas Gifts Q&A:
What are the best sustainable Christmas gift ideas for her?
A sustainable Christmas gift for her could include experiences she’ll enjoy, like a massage, spa day, or yoga class that brings relaxation and peace without material waste. Consider gifting her lessons that match her interests, such as a singing or surfing class, which create lasting memories and skills. Other ideas include useful services like a garden tidy-up or house cleaning, giving her more time to relax and enjoy the holidays.
What are the best sustainable Christmas gift ideas for him?
For him, a sustainable Christmas gift could be an outdoor adventure like ziplining or rock climbing, which delivers excitement and doesn’t create physical clutter. If he values practical gifts, you might consider a car clean or maintenance service, which is both sustainable and useful. Experience-based gifts like a dinner voucher for his favourite spot or a massage also offer a thoughtful way to show you care without adding to material waste.
What are the best sustainable Christmas gift ideas for kids?
Sustainable Christmas gift ideas for kids could focus on fun experiences or activities, like an outdoor adventure with family to explore nature. You could also give something unique like a photoshoot with a local photographer, capturing memories they’ll cherish as they grow up. For smaller gifts, practical items like homemade treats or a set of vegetable seeds to plant together offer educational and joyful ways to make memories.
What are the best sustainable Christmas gift ideas for family?
For family, a sustainable Christmas gift could be a group experience that everyone can enjoy together, like a cooking class, outdoor adventure, or even a "present game" where each person contributes one secondhand or consumable item to a gift exchange. Another fun option is to make the day about shared activities, like bringing a yoga instructor to host a class or setting up games for everyone to enjoy. Services like a garden cleanup or childcare also make fantastic family gifts that show care while lightening the load for the holidays.
What are the most affordable for sustainable Christmas gift ideas?
Affordable sustainable Christmas gifts could include gifting quality time or services, like making a homemade meal or offering a voucher for a house clean. If you prefer something tangible, you could bake homemade cookies, offer a jar of preserves, or DIY a pampering gift like bath salts in reusable glass jars. Other budget-friendly ideas include giving "time" vouchers for things like dog walking or a special movie night, making for a thoughtful yet wallet-friendly holiday gift.
