Gifting it forward: Is regifting finally acceptable?

Laughs landed because the joke is steeped in truth — who among us hasn’t been tempted to regift wool socks or a bottle of wine? 

Especially when the gift was likely regifted in the first place. But, as concerns about climate change have intensified alongside unprecedented weather crises, the clarion call to buy less and make use of what we have already has never been louder. 

That said, in the run-up to the most expensive time of year, does that apply to Christmas presents?

It’s understood that Irish people spend more than €700 on gifts at Christmas, a number of them unused or unwanted (the ‘unwanted gifts,’ section on DoneDeal stands, at the time of writing, 639 ads deep). 

With charities urging those with unwanted Christmas gifts every year, it begs the question: has regifting finally become less of a faux pas?

“I strongly believe that regifting, once considered a social faux pas, has evolved in recent years, becoming more accepted and even celebrated,” sustainability advocate and founder of sustainability website reuzi.ie, Pat Kane, shares.

“We can all agree that there is a growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental consciousness and regifting aligns with the principles of reducing waste and minimising our carbon footprint, as it extends the life of an item that might otherwise go unused or discarded. With the global awareness of environmental challenges, many people now view regifting as a responsible and eco-friendly practice. On top of that, economic considerations play a role in the changing attitude toward regifting.

“In times of financial uncertainty or simply to save money, regifting can be a practical solution. As the cost of living rises and economic disparities widen, regifting offers a way to maintain the spirit of gift-giving without straining one’s budget. In this context, regifting is seen as a pragmatic choice, and its acceptance has grown as a result.”

"ALWAYS A WINNER!"

In certain circles, secondhand gifting has absolutely become more acceptable. In a recent survey by Accenture, 48% said they would consider giving secondhand clothing as gifts, while 56% said they would welcome gifts of this kind for themselves.

“My sister and I have similar tastes,” Kane, continues. “And I know certain things I own look better on her, or she will get more use out of a certain item so whenever it’s her birthday or a special occasion, I try to find something I own (something I know she’d love!) and gift it to her. It’s always a winner!”

Echoing this is Sharon Keilthy of Irish eco-toystore Jiminy.ie, who says: “In general, I think regifting something that’s visibly used is still not something most people are willing to try. The issue is, that the whole purpose of a gift is to make the giftee feel happy and special — whereas we associate ‘used’ more with donating things we no longer want to charity shops — and it’s hard to make those two things come together.” 

Once considered a dirty word, secondhand is today an increasingly lauded commodity. The global secondhand market was valued at an estimated $177 billion in 2022 and is expected to double by 2027. With that, comes a pivot from shabby to chic.

“Thankfully amongst my friend and family group, it’s totally acceptable to gift second-hand or regift,” Fiona Donnellan, founder of sustainability-focused public relations agency, Sustainable PR, says. “We love practical gifting, so if that means the items are getting used; new or old, then why not. One man’s trash and all that. Plus, finding a real gem in a charity or second-hand shop can be such a buzz. The notion that you found this amazing item for €1, €2 or €3 and you’re giving new life to something discarded can spark joy.”

Undoubtedly, we have a lot of unlearning to do as consumers when it comes to regifting — especially at Christmas when consumerism is at an all-time high.

“I think we need to flip it on its head and instead of thinking you’re being cheap and stingy, know that you’re being thrifty, more sustainable and eco-conscious,” Donnelan shares. 

“Platforms like Depop, Facebook Marketplace and local Freecycle groups are becoming more and more popular, so that takes the stigma away from second-hand — people know they can find genuine deals and save money. When people think of second-hand, their heads tend to go to charity shops, however, there are companies like Swappie or refurbed.ie that do refurbished, second-hand smartphones and laptops. I got a refurbished iMac and it was in mint condition.”

“I think it’s important to reframe your very own perspective,” Kane shares. 

“Remember that the value of a gift is not solely determined by its price tag but by the thought, consideration, and effort put into choosing it. Focus on the sentiment and the thoughtfulness behind the gift rather than its cost. Additionally, consider the positive aspects of second-hand gifting, such as reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and the potential for finding unique, meaningful items. You can also personalise the gift you chose, sharing a story, or highlighting its relevance to the recipient. Ultimately, the joy and appreciation of the gift often come from the intention behind it, rather than whether it’s brand new or second-hand.”

"EVERYONE WAS HAPPY"

When it comes to children, regifting is far less stigmatised, many agree. “In the ever-practical “frazzled parent of a primary school child” circles, I see people regifting unused items all the time, even talking about it,” Keilthy says. “Their child got too many gifts, or got something they already had, so of course they pass it on. Even the gift bags are proudly re-used.

“My daughter wanted a specific LEGO set for her birthday. And my family wanted to get her a gift. So I did some cat-herding! I asked if they’d like to chip in for a LEGO set she wanted (they said yes). I offered to arrange it for them and ordered it pre-loved from BrickLink.com (because I knew that would be outside their comfort zone). Everyone was happy, and I felt good about having avoided the carbon footprint of a new set (which is high because LEGO’s still made from virgin petro-plastic).”

“If we want to move to a more circular economy we need to start sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling things we already have and extending the life of items as long as possible,” Donnellan says.

“If that means repairing and gifting an old jacket that you don’t wear anymore but that you know a friend will adore, I’m all for that.”