If you’re the kind of person who always leaves Christmas shopping until the last minute, then where do you go to find things for your family and friends?
Or if you’re looking for just one final present for someone, then where is the best place to look?
The shops will still be full of things to buy and there may even be last-minute discounts to be had.
There’s still plenty of ‘stuff’ to consume.
But if you want something a bit different, that will also help cut down on waste and reduce your own carbon footprint, then you could do far worse than pop into your local Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research or other charity shop to see what they’ve got on their shelves.
Not only will you be giving money to a worthy cause, but you will also be giving a new lease of life to a book, a vase, some clothes, a game, a unique piece of bric-a-brac, or something equally unusual that will definitely be a talking point when unwrapped.
Have a happy, fun-filled, low-carbon festive season
Russell Jones Content and communications manager
Happy carbon footprint
I typed ‘what is the carbon footprint of Christmas’ into Google and found quite a few answers but the one that caught my eye most was sustainable life, or ‘sustainable(ish), which seemed to take a realistic approach.
The site presents three different scenarios from a book called ‘How bad are bananas’ (A book which should perhaps be on everyone’s Christmas list!).
The low carbon scenario produces 4kg of CO2e per adult, with the high carbon one producing a staggering 1,500kg CO2e per adult.
The UK average is estimated at 280kg CO2e per adult, which covers the average £600 per adult spent on presents – although around 20% are unwanted!
It also covers the £220 we spend more than usual on food, and shockingly, around a third of that will be wasted.
It also assumes that your fairy lights are regular ones not LED, you are going to post 20 cards, and travel about 50 miles per adult more than you would normally and mostly by car.
So upcycling or recycling something from a charity shop could be a great way to find something without costing the earth!
Ex famine
It’s also rarely just secondhand stuff for sale these days as most of them have branched out into new merchandise, all sustainably sourced of course!
Oxfam (Named from the ‘Oxford Committee for Famine Relief’, in 1942) for example has an online shop with gifts ranging from just a few pounds. These include lots of useful stuff from food, clothing and ornaments to a woven cat ‘cave’, that your moggy is just bound to ignore!
They also list available clothes including well-known designer labels, but at a fraction of the price, so it is always worth a quick look.
Home is where the heart is
In addition to secondhand clothes and items, The British Heart Foundation includes a page for ‘pre-loved’ furniture and homeware, with guidance on where your nearest local store is to go and browse if a new chair or sideboard is on your Christmas list.
They also have an online giftshop which offers stocking fillers, candles, scarfs, Christmas cards, diaries, brooches, decorations and much, much more.
And, as you might expect from BHF, they also have a range of monitors for blood pressure and ECG, and you can even buy a defibrillator if you’re looking for a present for a local sports club or official.
Helping research cancer
There are estimated to be more than 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, so funding for research has never been more important.
The charity Cancer Research has a dedicated ASOS site where you can shop by brand, price and product type and can also look for either new or vintage, so there’s bound to be something useful, especially if you are looking for some retro gear from the 80’s and 90’s.
There are literally scores of Brands listed including Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Abercrombie and Fitch, DKNY, Christian Dior, Superdry, Prada, Pringle and more!
And if you don’t actually need anything and would instead like to support people living with cancer, then there is always Macmillan Cancer Support which will gladly take donations.
Support your local area
I’ve picked a few charities here but there are hundreds more and some will be very local to your area, so it’s worth a walk around your High Street to take a look.
Whether that is an environmental charity supporting local conservation or a nearby foodbank, there are many worthy causes waiting for your visit.
Whatever you decide, you’ll be cutting down on your carbon footprint significantly as the air miles’ for whatever you buy will be almost non existent compared to any new items that may have been shipped from around the world.
Anyway, I hope this gives you food for thought and that you have a happy, fun-filled, low-carbon festive season.
Russell Jones is content and communications manager
