9 January, 2026

We’ve all been there. The Christmas dust has settled, January is in full swing and there’s that one well-meaning but unwanted present sitting in the corner of your room quietly judging you. But where do these misjudged gifts actually end up and what can we do about it? 

In the UK 58% of adults receive at least one Christmas gift they don’t like, with an estimated £42 million worth being thrown away. Even the £1.55 billion of unwanted goods returned don’t necessarily make it back onto shelves, as many of us assume. In reality, aside from high-value products, most returns end up in landfill, incinerated, or sold to third-party resellers. 

These resellers, such as Wholesale Clearance UK, buy returned goods from retailers when the cost of shipping, processing and restocking outweighs the value of the low-cost products. While fast-fashion brands like AliExpress are common in these warehouses, largely due to the high cost of shipping returns back to China, UK high-street favourites are there too, debranded to protect their image. 

So how do we tackle our collective pile of unwanted presents? For a start, regifting could do with a rebrand. Often dismissed as “cheap”, passing an item on to someone who will genuinely appreciate it is the difference between reuse and landfill. Your unwanted puzzle book given to you by a well-meaning relative could be your best friend’s perfect way of unwinding. Platforms like eBay and Vinted offer a chance to start the new year with a side hustle, turning unwanted gifts into cash. And in the spirt of Christmas, donating to a charity shop not only gives your unwanted present a new lease of life but also generates funds for a good cause. 

Some of the problems lie upstream. Overproduction, low-cost goods and the environmental impact of return shipping being hidden behind “free” policies make it easy for businesses to pass waste down the line. But as consumers and gifters, we can also play our part by tackling overconsumption – encouraging fewer, better presents, choosing experiences, handmade or pre-loved presents, setting up wish lists, and using Secret Santa to limit excess. Fewer gifts doesn’t have to mean less generosity, just more thought. 

By Nia Vines