Create Your Own Low Waste Christmas Wreath

Make memories, not waste these holidays. Christmas is a time for joy and connection, but it’s also one of the most wasteful times of the year. Together, we can celebrate in ways that bring cheer without costing the earth. Previous estimates show that New Zealand households generate around 30% more waste over the festive season from food, packaging, and wrapping paper.

But here’s the good news small changes by many people add up to a big difference for our planet. And one fun, crafty way to start is by making your own low waste Christmas wreath.

How to Make a Low Waste Wreath

You’ll only need newspaper, wire, and foraged greenery branches, herbs, flowers, or clippings from your garden. It’s simple, budget friendly, and unique.

1. Lay newspaper flat.
Spread paper so you have a square shape. 		Multiple sheets of newspaper laid flat and overlapping to form a square. 
2. Take the corner of the bottom sheet and roll up tightly on a diagonal. Newspaper being rolled into a tube diagonally. 
3. Bend paper tube into a circle shape with the thin ends overlapping.
Try to get the thickness consistent around the circle. 		Paper formed into a ring showing even thickness around the circle. 
4. Take your wire and wrap tightly twice where the paper overlaps.
This will pin the circle and stop it from slipping. 		Paper formed into a ring showing how the ring will not keep shape without wire. 
5. Continue to wrap the paper circle with wire but loosely so that there is room to stuff foliage between the wire and the paper.
Twist the wire to fasten off. 		Paper formed into a ring with wire wrapped around to hold the shape. 
6.

Start pinning foliage into the wreath.

Tip 1: make sure all the foliage is facing the same direction.
Tip 2: try not to let any paper be visible through the greenery (except the bottom as that will rest on the table and won’t be seen).
Tip 3: longer pieces of foliage can be held in place with ribbon at the end.

Small pieces of evergreen tree attached to a wheel of newspaper. 
7.Select your ribbon of choice. Wrap around the greenery then tie the ends in a bow.
Cut off extra bits and burn ends (OUTSIDE) to stop fraying.		A wreath with red ribbon on a wood surface 
8.Soak wreath in water for 1minute to let newspaper absorb.
Rest on towel to allow excess water to drain off. 
9.Optional: Add any other decorations that you don't want to be submerged in water.

More Simple Ways to Have a Low Waste Christmas

  • Wrap gifts using fabric, jars, kids’ drawings, or brown paper.
  • Choose presents that are experiences, homemade, or second hand.
  • Reduce food waste by planning portions and getting creative with leftovers.

These little actions make a big difference especially when we all do them together.

Join us in reducing waste this festive season.