5 December, 2025

’Tis the season – for candles and cookbooks, novelty socks and bath bombs. The shelves are full, the ads are loud, and the parcels pile up. Every year, the holidays bring a flurry of goods and with them, the same old question: what makes a good gift? 

The short answer? It depends on what you mean by “good.” 

In Australia alone, nearly a billion dollars’ worth of gifts are expected to go unused this Christmas, destined for landfill. Pile on the wrapping, the air miles, the carbon footprint, and suddenly all that festive joy starts to look a little less merry. 

The solution, though, isn’t “no gifts.” It’s better gifts, and a better idea of what they’re for. 

Gifts don’t have to be new to be meaningful. Or shiny. Or even physical. They can be handmade, second-hand, edible, or experiential. They can be useful, meaningful, and lasting. They can come from someone nearby, like a local ceramicist, a small charity shop, or a friend who bakes. They can solve a challenge, or bring joy to the recipient each time they do it. What matters isn’t the thing, it’s the thought, the care, the intention. 

Because when we choose differently, we signal something bigger. That we’re ready for traditions that feel good and do good too. 

And if you’re looking for inspiration, here’s one of our favourite traditions at Good Business: Secret Santa, with a twist. Everyone gives a gift under £10, either handmade or bought from a charity shop. It’s fun, thoughtful, and a gentle reminder that what matters most isn’t how much you spend, but how much you mean it. 

So this Christmas, what we give matters, not just to the people receiving, but to the world we’re building. Here’s to goods that do some good. And gifts that feel just as good to give as they do to receive. 

By Justine Bahoumina