Enjoy a festive and environmentally-friendly Christmas with these tips!

Christmas is a time of gift-giving, extravagant feasts, and time with family. It’s a time to wind down, reset and have fun. But Christmas can have a negative impact on the environment. With lots of shopping, single-use plastic and paper waste, and the emissions generated to ship items to our addresses. It’s important to take care this Christmas, to help create as little impact on our environment as possible. 

We have gathered our top 5 tips to have an eco-friendly Christmas this year. 

1. Shop Locally 

Most large brands and retailers mass produce their products, leading to waste and carbon emissions. Small, local businesses are more likely to source their materials from nearby. They also will craft far fewer products, helping to prevent wastage. As an added bonus, when you buy from local businesses, you are helping to uplift and support communities.

2. Avoid Single-Use Items

Use plates and cutlery you can wash. Avoid single-use table-cloths and napkins. It may take a little longer to wash those items. You could even try to use fabric to wrap your presents that you can fold away and re-use next year. But it’ll help prevent excess waste on Christmas! 

3. If You Have a Plastic Tree, Use it!

Re-use that plastic Christmas tree from last year. Resist the temptation to buy a whole set of new tree baubles and decorations when you already have a box of them! Use what you already have. You don’t need to have shining new decor this Christmas if you already have those items. 

4. Re-Wear Outfits

Fast fashion is a large contributor to water consumption and carbon emissions. Re-wear that dress that you’ve worn several times already. You look great! Get creative with the outfit combinations with the clothes that you have in your wardrobe. 

5. Watch Out for Food Waste

Food waste is a big contributor to landfills and carbon emissions at Christmas. You can combat food waste by taking the time to plan meals, shop only for the ingredients you need, and using up leftovers. For leftovers, avoid clingfilm and try reusable containers or wax cloth covers. For food scraps, toss them into the compost or into your food scraps bin. 

Don’t Forget to Compare to Save 

Christmas feels a little different this year, with the cost of living crisis. It is okay if your Christmas looks a little different to how it has in the past. You are doing great. However, you can take some control back. You can save money for Christmas by comparing. 

Here at NZ Compare, our goal is to help Kiwis make better decisions with their money, ultimately helping them save. Our range of comparison platforms are designed to empower you to compare your broadband, power, mobile, and finance bills to find better plans that deliver value and unlock savings. Every little bit counts these days. Give yourself back some control over your budget and where your money goes. Our comparison platforms are bias-free, hassle-free, and free to use. Within just a few minutes, you can compare different plans and providers, and select filters based on your preferences to compare the best options available to you. 

Why pay more, when you can save money and smile a little more this Christmas. 

Save on Christmas Shopping with PriceMe

Whether you are shopping for Christmas gifts, or supplies to host the most wonderful feast, PriceMe is the tool to leverage this silly season. Compare the prices of over 1 million products across New Zealand retailers to find the cheapest prices – across categories including tech, outdoors, toys, and personal care. Compare similar items, product descriptions, and customer reviews so you can make a fully informed decision and save money on your Christmas shopping. 

Jump on PriceMe