MORE PLANET-FRIENDLY PRESENT IDEAS

Keep your Christmas sustainable with these low-waste suggestions.

+ Hungry Bin. These compost bins certainly lead to a more sustainable way of life. Worm farms are so cool: they use up all your food scraps and reduce the amount of rubbish you chuck out each week, they make amazing soil, and worm wee is about the most effective natural fertiliser you can get. Hungry Bins are $325 from hungrybin.co.nz.

+ When it comes to wrapping, think outside the square instead of reaching for your usual roll of gift wrap. Paper kept from last year’s celebrations is great, as is repurposed kids’ artworks, tea towels or a beautiful piece of recycled fabric.

+ Would your family be willing to try a sustainable Christmas? Perhaps one year you could try only giving gifts that are upcycled, recycled, secondhand, homemade or even regifted – just be sure the original gifter isn’t at your celebration, unless they’re likely to laugh! If your family is willing to forego gifts altogether, maybe you could instead donate that money to a worthy cause you’re all keen to get behind.