Hey earth muffins! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday full of family and fun – I know I sure did! Now that the gift giving is over, you might find yourself with things that aren’t exactly what you were hoping for… 🎁 Maybe your grandma thinks you are three sizes smaller than you are or your mom bought you a set of mugs that you actually already bought a few weeks ago. There is ALWAYS an increase in returns after Christmas; and there is a huge environmental impact of returns because of this. To be a bit more eco-friendly this year, I suggest avoiding returns as much as possible. Instead, here’s what to do with those unwanted Christmas gifts!
What is the Environmental Impact of Returns?
About 30% of the items bought online are returned… And that doesn’t take into account products purchased at the store. Did you know that most companies just throw away returned items? Five BILLION pounds of returned goods end up in landfills around the US each year. 😳 This is highly confusing to me, as there are plenty of secondhand places that could easily find new homes for these items. It’s also really upsetting that huge corporations don’t care to even TRY to re-distribute what they have already produced. It proves that they only care about producing more and more goods to make a profit. Instead of supporting the destruction of the planet by making returns this year, I suggest the following options instead:
1. Repurpose it!
Someone took the time and money to get you a nice gift for the holidays; so, find a way to use it! Being an earth muffin also means using up what you have – that is the sustainable way after all. 🌎 You can just find a use for two of the same items in your house. Or you can find a totally new use for the item. If you aren’t sure how to repurpose something, I would recommend looking at Pinterest – I always see such creative ideas on there!
2. Save it for later
While you may not need another notebook now, you might need one once your current journal is full. The same goes for kitchenware if you happen to break the current thing you already have. I suggest creating some sort of storage bin in the basement or attic to hold “currently unwanted” items. Make it a habit to check this bin before you head to the store to buy a secondhand or new version of something that just broke!
3. Regift it!
This is a great way to pass on what you don’t want or need to other family and friends. Especially for clothing that doesn’t fit right (or at all haha), regifting is a great way to avoid returns. The bin I mentioned above is also helpful for regifting as well. Need a last minute gift for a birthday party? Check to see if you already have something that will work!
4. Donate the gift
Check your local Buy Nothing Facebook group to see if anyone is in need of the item you want to get rid of. See if any local churches or non-profits are running drives for the particular product. Don’t just donate it to the first secondhand store you see – make sure where you donate your stuff will count!
Final Thoughts on the Environmental Impact of Returns
There are plenty of ways to avoid making returns after the holidays. Returns are bad for the environment and for you, as they often take up too much of your precious time. Use your extra minutes to read a book or spend time in the snow! Instead of making a return, try to repurpose the product to use it as something you don’t already have. If you don’t want to get creative, save it to be used later or to regift to someone in the future. Lastly, you could always donate it too. What do you do instead of making returns? Comment below and let me know what your favorite gift was this year!!
Love,
Jenna ♥
