Is it OK to Regift?

on By

As the gifting season fast approaches, the ethics surrounding regifting unwanted gifts rears its sustainable head.

There is so much stigma surrounding regifting, however, in the current climate where the war on waste is raging, why is it so taboo?

Alexis Todorovski from SCRgroup, Australia’s largest and most innovative company for the recovery of unwanted textiles and household items, is a big supporter of regifting and recommends it as a more sustainable gift buying option.

Alexis offers some words of wisdom on the rules of regifting to ensure your unwanted present ends up with someone who will appreciate it.

1. Never regift within the same circle

An obvious point that needs to be emphasised. It is important to create as much distance as possible between the gift and the giver. This will reduce the risk of anyone finding out and any feelings being hurt as a result.

2. Regift with the recipient in mind

Find a person who you can imagine buying something similar for anyway. The goal is to ensure the gift gets maximum use and appreciation.

3. Don’t forget about donating

If you can’t think of who to regift it to or it’s just not worthy of being passed on to your friends or family, then before you decide to throw it away or store it, consider dropping it off at a charity or SCRgroup collection hub.

4. Assess the condition

If you don’t want anyone to know you’re regifting then it’s important to make sure it’s in the perfect condition and original packaging. You will also need to look out for any labels or personalisation that may have been added to the gift for you. No one wants to be caught regifting a gift that has been engraved with their name!

Every Christmas SCRgroup sees a significant increase in illegal dumping with many people leaving their unwanted gifts outside collection hubs. If you’re looking to get rid of unwanted gifts, considering regifting. There is nothing wrong with finding a new home for an item, especially if you would buy that same gift for that person anyway.


Remove the stigma of regifting and practice being sustainable.