The Charity Retail Association (CRA) and The Charity Shop Gift Card are urging UK offices, friends, and family groups participating in Secret Santa this festive season to embrace a sustainable gift-giving rule: only gifts purchased from charity shops, or the versatile Charity Shop Gift Card, should be allowed.
The call to action comes in response to shocking figures on festive waste. Research conducted by OnePoll found that approximately 2.5 million unwanted Secret Santa gifts are thrown straight into the bin each year across the UK, collectively wasting over £32 million and contributing significantly to landfill.
“Secret Santa is meant to be a fun, low-pressure tradition, but the reality is that millions of pounds worth of unwanted novelty items end up in the bin, creating unnecessary waste at a time when we should all be focused on sustainability,” said Robin Osterley, CEO of the Charity Retail Association.
The Sustainable Solution
The Charity Retail Association is offering two simple, impactful solutions to make Secret Santa fully sustainable this year:
1. Shop Pre-Loved: Participants should source their gifts exclusively from one of the UK’s 11,000+ charity shops. This approach guarantees a unique, often vintage or high-quality, pre-loved item while ensuring all money spent directly supports a charitable cause.
2. Give the Gift of Choice: Alternatively, groups can opt to use The Charity Shop Gift Card. This simple solution ensures the recipient gets something they truly want, as the card can be redeemed at hundreds of charity shops across the UK.
A Win-Win for People and Planet
A Sustainable Secret Santa offers significant benefits beyond waste reduction:
- Reduces Landfill: By focusing on pre-loved items, the tradition cuts down on the demand for new, often plastic-heavy, novelty items that are quickly discarded.
- Generates Charity Revenue: Every gift bought from a charity shop or purchased using The Charity Shop Gift Card directly generates revenue for local and national charities, supporting vital work in communities nationwide.
- Unique and Thoughtful Gifts: Charity shops offer a treasure trove of unusual and quality items, allowing givers to find truly thoughtful gifts, rather than defaulting to generic or tacky presents.
“We are challenging every office to adopt the ‘Charity Shop Only’ rule this Christmas,” Robin added. “It’s the easiest way to ensure your festive fun is responsible, ethical, and actively supports the thousands of incredible causes our members champion.”
Buy a Charity Shop Gift Card here and find your nearest charity shop here.
