Pity the poor hack who has to write a Christmas-themed environmental piece at this time of year. This one, “Can you have a plastic free Christmas?” is interesting, but I think it misses an vital point.

It, rightly, says:

If you have stocked up on sturdy plastic gifts, take them to a charity shop or give to a friend after your kid has grown out of them.

But, it doesn’t mention Santa sourcing presents from those charity shops. I can assure you from experience chez Kane that if Santa knows pre-loved items will be loved again, he’ll make the effort. The elves are very good at seeking out great presents for a second life, but they need to be asked for them specifically.

Which brings me onto my usual hobby horse. How you dispose of an item is a minor issue compared to how you source it in the first place. Whether taking unwanted toys to the charity shop, or putting that plastic milk bottle in your recycling bin, there is absolutely no environmental benefit unless that item/material actually comes back into use, closing the loop. If we source stuff properly, the disposal will pretty much take care of itself.

So, my Christmas wish is for everybody to start thinking ‘demand >> diversion’ when it comes to the circular economy.