Are we giving too much? Christmas excess and its consequences
Gifts are an important part of Christmas traditions and one of the most striking symbols of the festive season. But are they all truly joyful? Often, the shiny wrappings hide things that will never be used – they end up in drawers, on shelves or in the recycling bin. Short-term sales encourage people to buy more than they need, and advertisements make us believe that holidays are impossible without a shopping marathon. Unfortunately, this post-holiday frenzy of consumption leaves not only moments of joy, but also a lot of waste and unnecessary items that we often don’t know what to do with.
Unnecessary gifts: the problem of waste is silent
Would holidays be less special without gifts? Perhaps when we hear this question, we feel a slight inner contradiction – after all, the anticipation of gifts and gift-giving has become an integral part of the festivities.
A significant proportion of respondents (73%) said they had received unwanted and unnecessary gifts at least once. Various souvenirs such as figurines, magnets, mugs, candles or other interior decoration items dominated the responses, with some describing these items even more bluntly, calling them “rubbish” or “dust collectors”. Unsuitable cosmetics or clothing also made the list.
What happens to these things, you ask? Just over half admitted that they just keep them on the shelves without ever using them. The other part (35%) passes on or re-gifts them to others, and about 8% throw them away or deliver them to re-use points, the importance of which is underlined by the Director of Kaunas RATC, Laurynas Virbickas, on the basis of the insights he has gained:
“It may seem that to give away or give away things that someone else has given you is to underestimate the person’s effort or intention to give. But isn’t it better to give things a second chance than to throw them away or hoard them?” – reflects the head of Kaunas RATC. He points out that it is the desire to expand sharing opportunities that has led to the opening of two new “Atiduotuves” in Kaunas. “We need to understand that sharing and giving should be more pleasant than receiving,” Virbickas emphasises.
Which side of these results are you on? Do we think about how we ourselves are becoming part of this problem of consumer culture and excess gifts?
Excess gifts: does more always mean better?
Not only for the people closest to you, but also for colleagues, acquaintances and even distant relatives. Even if the majority of respondents (93%) agree that gift-giving encourages overconsumption, this perception does not become a reason to reduce the number of gifts.
The majority of respondents (67%) reported giving between three and ten gifts during the holidays, and some even more! Only one in five choose to be minimalistic and limit their gift giving to 1-2 gifts.
The survey reveals that one of the main reasons why we give so much during the festive season is not necessarily a sincere desire to make people happy, but rather the ingrained habit of following the tradition of giving at least a token gift. Lack of creativity, inability to choose practical gifts or lack of time also contribute to over-giving. In addition, one in three respondents report that pre-holiday discounts often lead to impulse purchases of things that later become unnecessary for the recipient.
L. Virbickas, Director of Kaunas RATC, observes that festive gift-giving is increasingly becoming a part of fashion: ‘Today, gift-giving is often not about the actual need – it is more about meeting society’s expectations. This encourages reckless consumption, which in turn contributes to increasing waste.”
He also stresses that excessive giving is an integral part of the ever-increasing scale of consumption, which has a direct impact on waste: “In Lithuania, we are still learning how to live better – we are still consuming and buying a lot, so the amount of waste is only increasing.”
Based on research, Virbickas notes that there is a direct link between gross domestic product per capita and waste generation. “We have not yet reached the level where waste generation has started to decline,” he adds, noting that, for example, in Scandinavian countries, municipal waste generation has gradually started to decline, while Lithuania has not yet seen this trend.
The price of environmental protection: gifts with a trace of environmental damage
Unfortunately, the environmental impact of festive excess is enormous and starts even before the gifts reach our homes: ‘The production, packaging and transportation of goods consume huge amounts of energy, water and raw materials, and a huge amount of carbon dioxide emissions are released into the atmosphere,’ says Renata Utyrienė, an ecologist with the Kaunas RATC.
Gift wrapping waste is a particular problem, accounting for a large share of the increased paper, plastic and glass waste during the festive period. Each festive season, millions of tonnes of gift wrapping paper, ribbons and bags are used worldwide, many of which are not recyclable due to plastic coatings, glossy inks or metallic surfaces, and are discarded in landfills or burned in incineration plants to generate energy.
Choosing recycled packaging materials is more environmentally friendly than using non-recycled glossy decorations, but it’s important to remember that even recycling comes at a price.
“Sustainability should start at the gift planning stage – from thoughtful gift selection to minimalist, reusable packaging.” -“These solutions help to create more responsible consumption, reduce waste and conserve natural resources,” she says.
However, only a tenth of the respondents say they always try to choose sustainable gift solutions – handmade, recycled, eco-friendly or using minimal packaging. The vast majority, around 75%, say that while sustainability ideas are important to them, they are not always the main criteria when choosing or packaging gifts.
Finding solutions for sustainable giving
Sustainability solutions are not complicated – they are in the choices we make every day. Refusing to buy new things can be an inventive use of existing resources – for example, items at home can be an unexpected gift wrapping solution.
Ecologist R. Utyrienė shares her tips on how to wrap gifts sustainably and reduce festive waste: “It’s easy to make gift wrapping paper out of used, but still usable, paper grocery bags. Simply cut off the handles, cut the bag lengthwise and straighten it to make a solid sheet of paper. Flip it over so that the visible side is free of logos and use it as normal wrapping paper.” – Instead of traditional plastic ribbons and glossy ribbons, it’s a good idea to use dried flowers, twigs, pine cones or cinnamon sticks, she suggests: “These items last a long time and can be composted or thrown away with food waste if they lose their appearance. “#
Meanwhile, a responsible approach to choosing gifts can help you avoid over-giving. The results of a survey conducted by Kaunas RATC showed that most people try to find a more meaningful approach to this tradition, either by talking to their loved ones to find out their true wishes or by choosing practical gifts that have long-term benefits. Others point to the gift of experiences as an example of responsible gift-giving: “Time is the best currency”, agrees ecologist R. Utyrienė, adding that memories of shared entertainment or experiences last much longer than material gifts, and are the friendliest gifts for both our loved ones and the environment around us.
However, if you have accumulated things or received gifts that you don’t need and didn’t meet your needs, there is a sustainable solution to give them a second life. “ The festive season is a great opportunity to look through unwanted items at home and ensure that they are not thrown away, but given to those who will benefit from them and find joy in them. And it’s a principle that should always be followed, not just during the festive season.” – says Laurynas Virbickas, Director of Kaunas RATC.
These solutions remind us that celebrations can be not only joyful but also sustainable. Let’s choose gifts that strengthen relationships rather than piling up in waste piles, reminding us of the consequences of wanton consumption.
Kaunas RATC information