5th December 2025

Cathrine Jansson-Boyd on the Psychology behind panic buying and the reasons we do it

We all know that gift giving and putting up festive fairy lights are part of what makes Christmas so magical. So much so, that last Christmas alone, 443 million FastTech items flooded the country for the festive season alone, but 168m light-up FastTech and FastTech gifts ended up in the bin. While Christmas is the time for gifts, there are several easy things you can do to avoid the presents you give others ending up in landfill – these are summarised within these top ten responsible gifting tips below.

1. Leave yourself plenty of time.  If you want to give a meaningful gift to someone, don’t leave the shopping to the last minute! Leaving enough time means you can avoid making impulse purchases, When under pressure, you are more likely to be seduced by cute little things that lack functionality, as well as big discounts. Having enough time also means you can consider the recipient’s interests. Gifting something that reflects who they are shows empathy and care, making for a positive experience for both the giver and receiver.
2. Don’t worry about the size of the gift! Forget about trying to fit your presents into stockings. Something bigger can always be left on the side if needed – what’s important is that the present will be appreciated.
3. Consider personal preferences. Some items are better to avoid gifting, such as electronic goods, as people often have preferences for ‘specific’ models, which may be tricky to get right. It might also be tempting to purchase fun tech items that light up, but statistics suggest that 43% of all those bought are not used.
4. Try to ensure long-term enjoyment. People tend to prefer to receive items they will use repeatedly, which means gifting practical items in everyday life can be a good idea. When purchasing these, it’s best to consider the durability over time – for example, gifting a good torch that can be used for the next 10 years rather than a miniature one, just because it is cute. The smaller, less practical torch would be more likely to be quickly disposed of.
5. Don’t go rogue. If the person you are buying for has asked for something specific or even given you a list, then buy that. Research has found that recipients are more appreciative of gifts they have asked for than those they did not ask for.
6. Keep it simple. Ensure that what you are giving is easy to use. Most people show a preference for gifts they can use with ease. Avoid items that come with long manuals or a gadget that requires unusually sized batteries that most people are unlikely to have spares of at home.
7. Give an experience. Giving someone an experience like hosting a friend for dinner or an exercise class can make the recipient feel closer to the person who gave it.
8. Consider Charity donations. If you are unsure about what to buy, think about giving something to charity on behalf of a friend or loved one, as they are more likely to appreciate it than some random gift they did not really want.
9. Think ahead about how items will be disposed of. Christmas is not just the time of giving but also a time when people create a lot of waste. Not just from presents but also from food, tatty tinsel, or broken Christmas lights and alike. Therefore, it is key to think about the best way to dispose of them, as there are teams of heroes across the waste stream working tirelessly to raise mass awareness of how we can all recycle and dispose of batteries safely.
10. Use the Recycle Your Electricals Postcode Locator. If you get some cool new tech, make sure that you know how to dispose of the old ones, so you don’t just leave them lying in a drawer. Getting rid of clutter will give you a great new year feel. Remember that anything with a plug, cable or battery can be reused or recycled, and you can use the Recycle Your Electricals postcode locator to find the nearest point to you. This is super easy to do as there are over 30,000 drop-off points in the UK.

24th June 2025

Tech and electricals are amazing, they keep our clothes clean and our food fresh, they keep us warm, connected to friends and family and even save lives. They’re also full of valuable, critical and finite materials. So, we need to treat them with respect and buy, use and dispose of them responsibly. 

Here are some top tips from Professor Cathrine Jansson-Boyd on what you can do to make sure that these items are used responsibly and when you don’t need them, how to re-use or recycle them. 

1. Think before you buy – Before you buy any new tech, think about whether you actually need it. If you think you are only going to use it once or twice, don’t buy it! You should be planning to use it regularly. 

2. Take a break – If you are unsure about what you are buying, give yourself some space and time to consider it. Have a cup of tea or look in another shop – going off to do something else might make you realise that you no longer want it. Taking some time out before buying something also helps you to resist making impulse buys. If you do something else for a few minutes, the adrenaline rush settles and you are less likely to buy the item on offer.

3. Try second hand – Check if what you want can be bought second hand, it might very well be that a local charity shop or second-hand online platform such as Vinted or eBay has what you need.

4. Don’t be fooled by flashy deals – Don’t get seduced into buying more than you need. Discounts, 3 for 2 offers, sales for limited times are all strategies to get you to experience an adrenaline rush. It makes you get carried away and you may end up with an unwanted purchase. 

5. Repair before you replace – If something breaks, check if it can be repaired. Many high street stores, like Currys, offer repairs. Or go online and look for the closest repair shop. 

6. Give your tech a second life – when you are done with your tech, never shove it in a drawer. If you do it is likely it will be there for a long time as you will forget about them. Stick with the ‘one touch rule’. When you get your hands on the tech, and if it’s broken deal with it there and then by popping it into a bag or a box ready to be recycled.

Think about giving it to a neighbour with kids, put it on eBay or donate it to charity. Schools, nurseries, libraries, and hospitals often welcome tech donations if they are in good condition. Never put unwanted tech in your bin, anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled.

If in doubt about where you can repair, donate, or recycle, help is at hand, use the Recycle your Electricals’ postcode locator – there’s almost 30,000 locations across the country.

You can also keep a box or bag in your home to store your unwanted tech items, then when it is full take it to be recycled. The key is to try and make it as easy as possible for you.

Behaviour changes don’t usually happen automatically. So, if you think about what to do every day, for around 6 weeks, you will find it becomes second nature to do what is best for the environment. And you will find that you do your bit for the environment without having to think about it. Bonus!

As the anticipation for Black Friday and Cyber Monday intensifies, many of us will be in the market for great discounts and deals on electricals. In November 2021, 40% of UK adults purchased a staggering 40 million electrical household tech items during this shopping frenzy.

But remember – if you’re looking to nab a deal on new headphones, laptops, kettles or any other electricals, remember – don’t let your old electricals go to waste! We want to help turn this Black Friday green.

On average, 2 million unwanted electricals are thrown in the bin between Black Friday and Christmas – that’s a lot of precious materials being needlessly lost, when they could have been donated or recycled and been given a new life. Some electricals also have hidden batteries in them, which can cause fires when binned.

So how can you have a ‘Green Friday’? If you’re on the hunt for bargains this Black Friday, here are some sustainable shopping tips that will allow you to treat yourself and protect the planet:

Reuse before you replace: In the whirlwind of Black Friday discounts, it can be tempting to grab a shiny new gadget. However, before you make a purchase, ask yourself – do you already own something similar that you can reuse or repurpose? If you’re thinking of replacing or upgrading an item, explore the possibility of repairing it first. We have over 500 repair drop-off points on our locator! Making conscious buying decisions can help you avoid impulse purchases and reduce waste, benefiting both the environment and your wallet.

Buy refurbished: Many marketplace platforms, such as eBay and BackMarket, run their own Black Friday deals. EBay has launched its ‘deals that don’t cost the earth’ campaign, and BackMarket are offering great tech deals on second hand electricals. You can find discounts on refurbished or second-hand items that are thoroughly tested, certified for quality, and sometimes come with warranties. Opting for refurbished products not only saves you money but also extends the lifespan of these items, reducing electrical waste.

Seek out sustainable brands: Look for brands that prioritise environmental and social responsibility in their products and practices. Some brands use recycled or sustainably sourced materials and eco-friendly packaging. Others focus on minimising waste throughout their manufacturing process. You can use platforms like “reallygoodculture” and “goodonyou” to assess a company’s sustainability efforts before making a purchase.

Donate your unwanted electricals: If you decide to upgrade your electricals on Black Friday but your old ones are still in working condition, consider donating them. Donating your electrical items is a win-win! It reduces the demand for raw materials and helps others access affordable goods, potentially transforming their lives. Use our postcode locator to find local donation points.

‘Take-back’ your old electrical to a local retailer: Did you know many retailers are part of the retailer take-back scheme? The retailer take-back scheme which states that, “All electrical retailers are legally obliged to help their customers recycle their electricals. Retailers must take back customers’ items for recycling that are the same type of product that has a similar function when they buy a new electrical item, regardless of brand, on a like-for-like basis principle.” Some retailers, including Currys and B&Q, will take back all electricals without the need for you to repurchase. If you’re planning to buy a new electrical in the tempting Black Friday deals, take-back your old electrical for recycling! 

Recycle your broken electricals: If your old electricals are beyond repair and no longer functional, remember to recycle them. Anything with a plug, battery, or cable can be recycled! Recycling your electricals has never been easier; simply enter your postcode to find the nearest donation and recycling points.

This Black Friday, let’s not just chase after the best deals, but also strive to make a positive impact on the environment. By following these sustainable shopping tips, you can shop consciously, minimise waste, and contribute to a greener, more responsible future for us all.

With COP27 almost over, we look back on last year’s Climate Conference in Glasgow: when our Hidden Treasures photos by Gregg Segal  made their debut, and the journey they’ve since taken to inspire the UK to recycle their electricals.

Did you know that we’re hoarding 527 million old small electricals in our homes across the UK? That’s what was revealed in our 2020 ‘Hidden Treasures’ campaign, highlighting the gold mines we’re sitting on that could be reused or recycled. 

To demonstrate the jaw-dropping volume and value of these electricals, we worked with award-winning photographer Gregg Segal. Gregg’s unique style of photography brings to life the sheer scale of the e-waste problem, through capturing 4 birds-eye images of people surrounded by their old electricals. 

“It’s meant to feel a little overwhelming – to reflect what we all feel when we hoard all this stuff. But we can feel relief, too. We don’t have to be surrounded by this stuff. We can pass on these old electricals to others or recycle them.” Gregg Segal, photographer

Our Hidden Treasures photos were first displayed at COP26 in Glasgow, spotlighting the importance of e-waste on a global stage and inspiring some of the world’s most influential people. 

The images have since travelled up and down the country to various exhibitions, with the  aim to inspire people to recycle their electricals… 

6ft photographs visit the Six Foot Gallery, Glasgow

COP26 created an environmental buzz in Glasgow, even after the conference. We were therefore delighted when Six Foot Gallery asked to exhibit the photographs as part of their Winter Show, to continue reminding residents of the importance of recycling their electricals. 

“We loved having the photographs on display and felt that they were a really powerful demonstration of our consumption of technology, and a great addition to our Winter Show last year.” The SFG Team 

Spreading the e-waste message to MShed, Bristol

Over the summer we featured in MShed’s Think Global: Act Bristol’, an exhibition that explored Bristol’s role in the climate and ecological emergencies. 

“The Recycle Your Electricals campaign is brilliant. It was so good to be able to include two of Gregg Segal’s photos in our exhibition. They were the perfect bridge between sections on Technology and Consumption, and really striking thought provoking images that got all of our team, as well as visitors, thinking about the electrical ‘stuff’ we accumulate.” Karen McDonald, MShed curator 

Making a mark at Landmarks Art Centre, London 

The images most recently visited the Landmarks Art Centre in Teddington, South West London, as part of their ‘Trash to Treasure Fest’ exhibition. 

‘Trash to Treasure Fest’ was a community arts festival, encouraging locals to fix, reuse and recycle their unwanted electricals. Landmarks Art Centre held a drop-in repair cafe throughout the exhibition, where anyone could bring in their broken tech item to be fixed by the Sheddington team. Alongside this the Landmark’s choir created a sound installation combined with the noise of old electricals.

What can you do to help?

Our ‘Hidden Treasures’ photos illustrates the scale and growing challenge of electrical waste hoarded in UK homes, but also the positive impact on climate change that could be achieved by taking the simple steps of recycling. We want to continue exhibiting these images, to surprise and inspire households to start reusing and recycling old electricals. 

If you are holding an exhibition or know of an exhibition, please get in touch by emailing hello@materialfocus.org.uk or calling 07581 005204