A low-waste Christmas: presents, wrapping and the tree
Simple ways to cut Christmas waste — choosing presents that last, wrapping that can be reused or recycled, and what to do with cards, packaging and the tree.
Facts checked 15 October 2026
You don’t have to give up on presents to have a lower-waste Christmas. Most of the difference comes from what you choose, how you wrap it and what happens to everything afterwards.
Choose presents that last
The waste charity WRAP suggests choosing gifts that last — experiences, good-quality things that will be used for years, or pre-loved finds. A few ideas:
- Reusables that replace throwaways: a water bottle, a coffee cup, beeswax wraps or rechargeable batteries.
- Experiences instead of things: afternoon tea, a cookery class or a day out.
- Something to grow: seed balls, a herb kit or a bug hotel.
See all our eco-friendly gift ideas.
Wrapping: do the scrunch test
Not all wrapping paper can be recycled. WRAP and Wales Recycles recommend the scrunch test: scrunch the paper into a ball — if it stays scrunched, it can usually go in the paper recycling; if it springs back, it probably can’t.
- Can’t usually be recycled: foil or glitter paper, sticky tape, ribbons and bows.
- Check locally: some councils don’t collect wrapping paper at all.
- Reuse instead: WRAP suggests reusing gift bags, ribbons and paper, wrapping in brown paper or newspaper, and cutting old cards into gift tags. Fabric wraps can be used again every year.
Our gift-wrapping guide has more tips.
Cards and packaging
- Cards can be recycled once you’ve removed ribbons, bows, glitter and foil (Welsh Government).
- Toy packaging: flatten cardboard, remove plastic windows from boxes and take rope or ribbon handles off gift bags before recycling (Wales Recycles).
- Advent calendars: the outer card can be recycled, but the plastic inner tray usually can’t.
The tree
Real Christmas trees can be recycled — councils often collect them or run drop-off points in early January. Take off all decorations, tinsel, pots and stands first. Artificial trees can’t go in the recycling, but if you look after one and use it for many years, it won’t need replacing; charity shops may take one in good condition (Wales Recycles).
Food
WRAP’s festive food-waste campaign points out that households often buy and cook more than they need at Christmas. Plan portions, use the freezer and have a plan for leftovers.