The “Second-Hand Secret Santa” project was firstly introduced by the Act Aware committee in 2020 to battle unnecessary waste and consumption in the LUC community whilst keeping Christmas traditions alive. The idea is to find joy in what other people might want to throw away. Thus, everyone who signs up gives a gift and receives one, similarly to the classical Secret Santa tradition.
Why sustainable?
This project is sustainable for two reasons. First, the products that people have bought at some point but would no longer want to use will now not be thrown away but reused which decreases waste. Second, people who participate in Secret Santa now no longer buy new products, decreasing mass consumption, which is especially critical around Christmas time. This entire mechanism depends on LUC students wanting to do good and to have less of a negative impact on the environment, which it seems to be succeeding in as people are participating.
Reduced Inequality: Students who don’t have the money to buy new gifts for others every time Christmas comes around, can now participate in this tradition without having to break the bank.
Responsible Consumptionand Production: Instead of buying new products as gifts old items are being given a new chance to be reused.
ClimateAction: Reusing goods decreases production which in turn decreases CO2 emissions and the use of natural resources.
