An estimated $921 million worth of unwanted Christmas presents is expected to go to waste in 2023, new Australia Institute research revealed.
This amounts to over 275,000 tonnes of goods.
Of the 1,379 people surveyed in the research, nearly a third expect to receive unwanted Christmas presents - which accounts for around 6.1 million adults across Australia.
The report quantified the estimated amount waste in comparison with the United Kingdom.
“With a population of 67 million people, the UK produces over 688,000 tonnes of Christmas waste every year - and this does not include unwanted or unused gifts,” the report read.
“This is 15 times the amount of any other holiday celebration, making Christmas the most wasteful national holiday.
“Given that Australia has a population of just over 26 million people (or about 25% of the UK’s population), it is reasonable to assume that Australia would produce over 275,000 tonnes of Christmas waste a year.
“With a significant number of countries in the world celebrating Christmas, there is a reason why some environmentalists deem Christmas to be the greatest annual environmental disaster.”
The financial estimate is based on research showing adults, on average, spend $388 each on presents at Christmas.
“Most of us love buying gifts for our loved ones, but 275,000 tonnes of them – or $921 million worth – are set to go unused or unworn,” Australia Institute’s director of the Waste & Circular Economy program Nina Gbor said.
“The bulk of these unused presents are destined for landfill, wasting money, and adding to plastic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the climate crisis.
“But nearly half of us would rather not receive presents at all, suggesting it’s time to shake up our spending habits this Christmas.
“Gifting experiences, homemade presents, gift cards or donations in someone’s name are great alternatives to presents that would otherwise gather dust or go to waste.
“Buying fewer presents and focusing on quality over quantity does not just help save the environment, it also spares our wallets during the cost of living crisis.”
The research also found that 48% of Australains would rather people not buy them gifts at Christmas. However, 78% like buying Christmas gifts for others.
When buying for others, 46% say they do not think about how those gifts will be eventually disposed of.
Three in five (59%) agree it is better for the economy when people buy fewer things that go unused.
And three in five (61%) had a Christmas tree last year and, of those, 85% intended to reuse it.