Millions of presents are exchanged between family and friends in the UK every Christmas and while we would like to think everyone loves all of the presents they are given, this isn’t always the case. Consumers in the UK throw away approximately £42million worth of unwanted gifts over Christmas and 1 in 5 gifts end up in landfill.
The process from manufacturing the product to throwing it away, has immense impacts on the environment, as natural resources like fossil fuels are required when making it and they are further emitted from decomposing products in landfill. Not only does this have devastating effects on our surroundings, but charities can benefit massively. With the cost-of-living crisis, everyone is affected financially this Christmas more than ever. So, when looking at different perspectives of re-gifting an item, everyone benefits from it. The original gift-giver would hate to think that their present – and their money – was going to waste and immediately being thrown away, and the receiver will also not want to waste the gift when they know there are others who will love it.
So instead of throwing a gift out or keeping it in the cupboard until there is a more acceptable time to throw it away, try gifting it to other places.
Some tips for regifting a present:
Choose which charity you would like to donate it to and then ensure it is still in good condition to be able to regift it. It is even better to leave the tag on the item, as customers in a charity shop are drawn to new items instead of older ones, so are more likely to buy and help the charity.
Checking to make sure the shop is still taking donations, as they may have updated their time slots over the festive period. Additionally, you can also check which items they are accepting. Willow Burn’s three charity shops located in Stanley, Consett and Chester-le-Street will be accepting donations when they re-open on 3 January.
Not only can regifting be done through charity shops, but donating items for tombolas, raffles and other fundraising activities can also increase the money raised for the charity and gives the gift a new home. Getting in touch with local hospices or charities to find out when their next fundraising event is, can unleash a creative spark when donating items in a lesser-known way. This is still as beneficial as donating directly to charity shops and provides you with the knowledge of how and when your gift will make a difference.
Whilst most unopened gifts can be easily regifted, there are a few that wouldn’t be appropriate for charities. These can include damaged or heavily used gifts. Additionally, anything personalised or with an inscription shouldn't be regifted as not only would it not be chosen by others, but also because you’re regifting a heartfelt message and thoughtful item.
Regifting can be frowned upon but is ignored in its benefits for the environment and for charities that need extra help around this time of year. Doing a good deed such as donating items to charity can be very uplifting and encourages a cyclical movement of products rather than the immediate disposal of them.
Try regifting this year and watch how you can help the environment and charities to thrive.
