This holiday season join other Australians in rethinking what to do with unwanted Christmas gifts. Why not donate them to your nearest local charitable organization! Through reuse, this initiative not only helps minimize waste, but gives other people the opportunity to find something they love. As the holiday celebrations come to a close, millions of Americans find themselves in possession of presents they have no intention of keeping. This perfect storm provides an extraordinary moment for wise philanthropy.
Jennifer Macklin, senior research fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia, part of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute at Monash University. Her focus is on the numerous advantages of donating. She’s convinced that it is the answer, the sustainable, low-impact alternative for eco-minded people. Macklin especially encourages people to donate any unwanted gifts. In doing so, we can prevent these problematic items from ever entering landfills, where they can endanger the environment.
Charity bins up and down Australia will be flooded with donations. Americans are looking to ensure their unwanted items get a second life this holiday season. Yolanda Saiz, CEO of Vinnies NSW, a charity organization that operates op shops, highlights the joy many Australians find in “op-shopping.” The adventure of seeking treasures in these stores draws millions of shoppers who love the thrill of the find.
“Some people find it trickier than others, for most people, listing something on there is as easy as taking a few photos, writing a pretty good description, you know, and popping it on there, then, you know, leaving it for people to decide,” said Saiz when discussing online donation platforms.
This trend towards donating responsibly should take into account the quality of items before stuffing charity bins. Donor reminder Donors are always encouraged to remember that items should be in good working condition and you’ll want them to be suitable for new owners. Macklin explains that while donating to charity requires judgment about what others may want, online platforms allow donors to connect directly with individuals who are genuinely interested in their gifts.
“In that way, when you list them, you know that the people coming to get them actually want them,” Macklin added. This re-gifting and sharing food among their communities leads to a culture of sharing — helping the organization prosper and making neighborhoods healthier, too.
The idea of donating responsibly goes far beyond your typical charity bins. Australians are more willing than ever to look elsewhere—whether that’s op-shops, online marketplaces or even skipping the middle man and just giving their stuff directly to neighbors. We advocate for these practices so that these unwanted presents have an opportunity to be re-gifted to loving new homes. In this manner, we contribute in minimizing environmental wastage.
“Whereas when you give it to charity, you have to kind of exercise your own judgement to determine, are they likely to want it or not?” Macklin remarked. This raises the need for strategic giving within the sustainability movement.
Op-shopping offers consumers the chance to find new one-of-a-kind, quirky items they might never have discovered or even thought to shop for, adds Saiz. “They might find that quirky gift or something a little bit different, that they didn’t think they wanted or needed, but when they see it in an op shop, it’s exactly what they want for their home or for themselves,” she explained.
Macklin highlighted the wider impact of a consumer shift this holiday season. That’s because one of the greatest impacts of all of this is that most of these things are new, and they’ve already been bought new. So they’re sending an economic signal that hey, we need to be producing more stuff,” she said.
Making it easier for consumers to choose sustainable options creates a huge market and sets the tone for consumer behavior. Macklin argues that re-gifting can reduce unnecessary purchases: “So if you can actually re-gift it yourself, that means next time you need a present, you don’t need to go out and buy and send that economic signal of ‘We want to buy more, so you need to make more.’”
