Environmental campaigners are advising people how to show goodwill to the planet by being green this Christmas.

They say there is a wide range of measures people can take to cut their carbon emissions.

The measures include buying presents and ingredients for Christmas dinner locally to planting your tree after use to offset carbon emissions.

"In terms of Christmas trees, people could look at using native trees and planting them outside," said Professor David Penman, a Canterbury University environmental scientist.

"Rather than throwing away your Christmas tree, they should be taken to a green waste skip where they can be shredded and composted."

He said wrapping for presents could be recycled and gifts chosen with minimal packaging. Colourful wrapping paper contained more chemicals and should be avoided.

"Buying locally would be a rather sensible thing to do," Penman said.

"There is obviously less carbon emitted if food is not transported a long way. Buying fresh is also good, rather than getting processed food that uses a lot of energy."

He said even the Christmas tipple should be considered, and people could look for carbon-neutral wine where possible.

Penman said if people travelled to see relatives they could work out their emissions and plant trees to offset them.

Olmec Sinclair, who runs website carbon. org.nz, which offers advice on reducing and offsetting emissions, said people should try to reduce travel.

"If people go to see relatives, then perhaps they can all go in one car to stop unnecessary emissions," Sinclair said.

"Buying toys and presents that are made in New Zealand would be preferable, or things that are durable and will still be there next year and won't end up on the scrap heap."

He said avoiding plastic goods, which are made by using fossil fuels, was a good idea.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said people needed to focus less on material things to try to avoid waste.

"We can buy people things like gift vouchers or vouchers for a massage."

She said people could buy gifts such as goats that would be given to families in the developing world on their behalf.

USEFUL TIPS

Use low-energy Christmas lights to cut down on power use.

Buy a tree with roots and plant it outside after Christmas.

Car-share when you are going to granny's for Christmas Day to cut down on mileage.

Cook your Christmas dinner using local produce to reduce transport emissions.

Wrap your presents in plain paper and add decorations made from natural materials.