Over A Third of Irish Public Planning on Buying Less Christmas Gifts in Eco-Conscious Shift

New research published by Repak has revealed that the Irish public will be more eco-conscious this Christmas. Almost 1 in 3 (30%) adults in Ireland are going to upcycle items to gift to a loved one and a similar amount (33%) will buy gifts that can have a second life to ensure that they last longer. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) shoppers see sustainability as an important factor when buying gifts, looking for products that are locally produced and whose packaging is recyclable.

This eco-conscious mindset extends beyond gift giving, with almost half of households planning on reducing how much they spend on food and drink in a bid to cut back on waste. The days of buying mountains of wrapping paper are also over, with 57% opting to put presents in reusable or recyclable gift bags and over 4 in 10 (43%) planning on using wrapping paper that they have saved or newspaper to wrap gifts. Two thirds (66%) of the public are also planning on saving and storing gift packaging for next year.

Local recycling centres are also set to see a spike in footfall after Christmas day, with two thirds (66%) of households planning to make a visit to dispose of waste. The Irish public is also getting creative with how they are giving their home a festive makeover, with approximately a third (30%) planning on using homemade decorations.

Commenting on the research Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh said: “Irish households are finding creative, thoughtful ways to make Christmas more eco-friendly, from upcycling gifts and reusing wrapping paper to cutting down on food waste. The fact that almost four in five shoppers are actively seeking locally produced and recyclable products speaks volumes about how engrained sustainability is becoming as part of our Christmas planning. At Repak, we want to make recycling simple, and we’re here to help households recycle right this Christmas. Small actions like making sure all items are clean, dry and loose before recycling, make a big difference”.

Approximately 102,000 tonnes of packaging waste will be generated this Christmas and Repak is encouraging households to give back to the environment where possible. To make a real difference, shoppers should focus on recycling the packaging we use most in December: wrapping paper, boxes and mixed packaging.

Repak’s key Christmas recycling tips to follow are:

The golden rule: Clean, Dry and Loose.

Separate & flatten: Break down boxes; keep items loose (don’t bag out items into each other)

Waste in the right place: Check out repak.ie for guidance on what can go into your recycling bin this Christmas.

Recycle it all: Cardboard, paper, all plastic, metals, tins and foil belong in your recycling bin.

For dedicated Christmas recycling tips, visit repak.ie and follow Repak on TikTok and Instagram for the chance to win a €100 OneAll voucher as they share more top Christmas recycling tips.