Do The Green Thing launches alternative gifting system to tackle climate change

The fifth issue of Do The Green Thing, “a public service for the planet that uses creativity to tackle climate change”, opposes the overconsumption that takes place at Christmas. Founded by Pentagram partner Naresh Ramchandani, Do The Green Thing posts an issue challenging the “unsustainable status quo through long-form arguments and creative provocations” every two months.

In the run-up to Christmas it has launched Why Santa must die, an alternative gifting system that encourages “everyone to go giftless by Ungifting the people you care about and and giving them some of your precious time instead”. To address the issue Naresh has written a polemic exposing “the level of unchecked festive consumption and eviscerates the ultimate symbol of capitalist Christmas – Santa.” The piece is accompanied by an illustration by Pete Fowler.

By Ungifting, Do The Green Thing says we are providing an “alternative to the billions of unwanted candles, bath bombs, novelty ties, socks and other impersonal gifts that are unthoughtfully given, ungratefully received and unceremoniously thrown away every year”. This is a reaction to research that claims the average millennial Londoner will spend £767 on Christmas presents this year and that “Britons receive £2.4 billion worth of unsuitable Christmas presents every year”.

You can send a personalised Ungift Card here. “It’s easy, it’s green and it’s free.”