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Regifting is good for the environment

By Trystan L. Bass

Posted Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:38pm PST

Related topics: Shopping, Holidays, Gifts, Recycling, Reusing stuff

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Recently, the Motley Fool's Dayana Yochim wrote a rather disdainful list of do's and don'ts of regifting. "Regifting" is, of course, the process of giving someone a present that has been previously given to you.

I guess a finance guru thinks you look cheap if you indulge in this practice, but to me, regifting is simply another word for "recycling," so it's good for the planet.

You're keeping something out of the garbage and hopefully giving it a useful new home.

Some of Yochim's regifting tips that we greenies might want to ignore include:

"Don't confuse barely used with brand-spankin' new." Sure, if a garment is stained, it's not an appropriate gift. But mismatched twist-ties on cords are hardly valid reasons to not pass along a working electronic toy to a kid.

Another nonstarter: "Make sure all original packaging is intact." Who cares? Packaging is wasteful to begin with, so if you've already recycled it, don't worry about not passing along that problem to another person. You don't need to give shrink-wrapped gifts -- sentiment is not measured by plastic (especially when the plastic will just clog up the ocean).

Here's another one that's a bit iffy: "Wrap it like it's new." Yes, it's nice to wrap a gift to show you care. But you can always reuse wrapping paper (my family has been doing it for decades; not with the exact same paper, though!), and high-quality fabric ribbons and bows last a long time. Check out our previous blog post for eco-friendly wrapping ideas.

But we can all agree with this advice: "Give with good intentions." Think about who would really appreciate your second-hand gifts the most.

Because if they don't want it, those things still could end up in a landfill, and that's the kind of gift our planet doesn't need.

Related topics: Shopping, Holidays, Gifts, Recycling, Reusing stuff

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Posted by flubadub Thu Nov 6, 2008 8:03pm PST
I'm with Dayana Yochim on this one, in principle. But it's not about looking cheap as much as looking thoughtless. There's something in a re-gift that screams, "You don't mean enough to me to get something FOR YOU." It's a kind of material air-kiss. ---If you want to give something away that will have a double benefit, donate it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or some other charity that will a.) get it reused, and b.) raise some cash for a good cause. ---As for the people for whom you feel some need to gift, you might think twice about whether more toy STUFF or gadget STUFF or clothing STUFF is really called for, or whether some tasty consumables, like wine, chocolate, or fruit, might do just as well. They gotta eat SOMETHING, right? And what could be greener than something that begins biodegrading in its very "use"? Sometimes a card is all that's required. Don't give a gift just to keep up with others' giving. We give too many "gifts" in America, anyway. ---Personal time is usually more valuable than STUFF. Be the kind of friend who helps people move, etc. ---Regifting is tacky. Find another way.
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Posted by peace! Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:07pm PST
There is a native American tradition of giving something that you love as a gift. This could be something you no longer use but still love,or it could be somethin that you love and know they love so you give it to them with love. I had bolo tie in the shape of a saddle made of silver and my birthstone(Bloodstone) and I loved it dearly but never wore it. I knew someday the right person would come along to give it to, and finally 20 years later, a full blooded Lakota Indian was the recipient of the tie. I told him how I loved it dearly and wanted him to have it. He smiled .
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Posted by Laura S Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:18am PST
If you have something you *know* that you know a friend or relative will love or use I don't think there's anything wrong with re-gifting. It's only tacky and thoughtless if you just pick something out of your pile of junk and wrap it and hope they like it. It's possible for regifting to be thoughtful.
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