The festive season brings joy, family get-togethers, and memorable celebrations for many of us in the Cook Islands. Unfortunately it also sees a sharp increase in waste, particularly single-use plastics, placing extra strain on our limited landfill space. As an island nation, where plastic waste cannot be recycled on-site, every choice we make has a direct and lasting impact on our ‘ipukarea (heritage) and the ocean that surrounds us. We can all do our part to minimise the impact by adopting simple, conscious choices for a truly sustainable, waste-free Christmas.

Thoughtful gifts, experience over “stuff”

One of the biggest contributors to holiday waste is unnecessary or short-lived gifts, often made of plastic or wrapped in plastic packaging. This year, let’s rethink our approach to presents:

• THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE: At Te Ipukarea Society, we love the concept of an experience. Instead of a physical item, gift an experience! Consider a snorkel tour, a SCUBA diving experience, a guided walk in the Takitumu Conservation Area to reconnect with our native birds and plants, or a relaxing massage or spa voucher from a local business. These gifts support the local economy and create lasting memories, not landfill mountains.
• SUPPORT LOCAL AND UPCYCLED: If you choose a physical gift, look for items that are long-lasting or made from recycled/upcycled materials. Local businesses like Circle Cook Islands do fantastic work, transforming materials like popped pool floaties and old bicycle inner tubes into unique jewellery and bags.
• HOMEMADE AND LOCAL TREATS: A delicious, homemade gift is always appreciated. Bake a Christmas fruit cake or cookies, or gift a special plant cutting, like a Tipani (Frangipani), Kaute (Hibiscus), or a fruit tree for a waste-free, natural present. Or look in grocery stores for locally produced jams and condiments such as Mauke Moments.
• Consider a LOCALLY PRODUCED 2026 CALENDAR  as a gift idea. Just off the press, TIS has a beautiful calendar available highlighting some of the work we have been doing this year around the country.

Wrapping and decorating, use natural alternatives

The mountain of torn, often non-recyclable, wrapping paper on Christmas morning can be drastically reduced with island-smart alternatives.

• WRAP WITH FABRIC: Pareu is the perfect dual-purpose gift wrap. It creates suspense, looks beautiful, and becomes a useful second present! Alternatively, save and reuse old gift bags, or use old newspaper or your children’s drawings for a unique personal touch.
• NATURAL DECORATIONS: Avoid plastic tinsel, glitter (which sheds micro-plastics), and disposable plastic baubles.
  • Decorate your home with natural materials sourced locally.
  • Make a wreath from collected driftwood or shells.
  • String popcorn or flower heads onto thread for decorations.

Food and drinks: Refill and Reuse

Christmas feasting doesn’t have to mean mountains of disposables. Simple swaps can significantly reduce our food and drink-related waste.

• REFILL YOUR BEVERAGES: Single-use plastic drink bottles are one of the biggest challenges for Rarotonga’s waste management. Make the most of local refill options.
  • Take your own flagons or reusable bottles to the Rarotonga Brewery or Raro Liquorland in Arorangi for beer and kambucha refills, or the Bond Store for beer refills. Every 2 litres of refill keeps 6 empty stubbies or cans out of your rubbish and our landfill.
  • Refill your reusable water bottle at one of the island’s many UV-treated water stations, avoiding the need to buy bottled water entirely. TIS still have plenty of thermal water bottles with pour or screw lids, that would make the perfect secret Santa gift!
• ECO-FRIENDLY COOKING: When cooking fish, meat and other foods in your oven or umu, swap aluminium foil for banana leaves. Sear the leaf over a flame briefly to make it flexible for wrapping. They work wonderfully to retain moisture and impart a subtle, pleasant flavour.
• AVOID CLING WRAP AND DISPOSABLES: To cover leftovers, skip the plastic cling wrap and use a pareu or cloth tablecloth instead. For your main Christmas dinner, commit to using real crockery, glasses, and cloth napkins to eliminate all disposable plastic plates, cups, and cutlery.

The Cook Islands does not have the facilities to recycle plastic waste, meaning all the plastic we generate ends up in our limited landfill or polluting our inland areas and surrounding sea. The amount of waste produced at Christmas is much higher than the rest of the year, making our collective effort at this time very important.

This Christmas, let’s respect our beautiful island environment. By choosing experiences over plastic gifts, wrapping with fabric, refilling our drinks, and using nature’s own wrapping—banana and other leaves—we can celebrate a festive season that is truly sustainable, mindful, and in line with the Mana Tiaki ethos. This year let’s give The Cook Islands the gift of a cleaner, less wasteful Christmas.