Leith Collective Launches Re-Gifting Tree to Tackle Christmas Waste and Support Families

Three in five adults in the UK received an unwanted gift last Christmas. That equates to around 31 million unnecessary presents, many of which ended up in landfill.

In a bid to simultaneously put a stop to this staggering seasonal waste and to help families who may be struggling to make ends meet, one local Community Interest Company is launching a brand-new Re-Gifting Tree project.

Commencing on Monday 17th November, all Leith Collective stores across Scotland will feature a Christmas tree adorned with gift tags. Each tag will bear the name of a gift, from a children’s book or a warm scarf to a box of chocolates or toiletries set. Visitors to the store can take a tag and drop off the corresponding gift at the store, where they will be collected and distributed to those in need this Christmas. Crucially, the emphasis of this project is on re-gifting good quality, unopened presents, rather than encouraging people to purchase new items.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the Re-Gifting Tree project, The Leith Collective founder Sara Thomson said;

“We live in such a divided society where some people are literally throwing away unwanted presents while many others are struggling to afford basic essentials such as heating and food, let alone Christmas presents. By launching our Re-Gifting Tree project, we hope to keep as many unwanted presents as possible out of landfill and instead direct them to people who will truly appreciate them.”

Monday 17th November also sees the welcome return of The Leith Collective’s popular Christmas Tree Exchange project. Locals are being urged to search their homes for any unwanted Christmas trees and decorations that may be languishing in cupboards and attics. Instead of sending them to landfill, they can drop them off at The Leith Collective stores where they will be passed on to struggling families whose budgets can’t stretch to non-essentials such as festive trimmings.

Commenting on the return of the Christmas Tree Exchange, Sara added;

“We need to pull together as a community because everyone deserves to enjoy the sparkle and magic of waking up to a Christmas tree with a present beneath it.”

Christmas trees and decorations will be available for anyone to collect at Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird, Ocean Terminal and Livingston Designer Outlet, as well as Dundee’s Overgate store, during opening hours completely free of charge. No stigma, no judgement, no questions asked.

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