Environmental groups sound alarm over adult advent calendar craze contributing to holiday waste crisis

Environmental campaigners are raising concerns about a growing holiday trend that they say exemplifies wasteful consumer culture: advent calendars designed specifically for adults. These luxury countdown calendars, which have exploded in popularity over recent years, contain everything from high-end cosmetics and skincare products to quirky items like instant mashed potato packets, marking a significant departure from the simple paper calendars with festive pictures that children have traditionally enjoyed.

Green groups argue that this adult advent calendar phenomenon represents “superfluous consumerism” that’s contributing to our mounting waste crisis. The concern centers on two key environmental issues: excessive individual packaging for each daily item, and the high likelihood that recipients won’t actually want or use many of the products they receive. Unlike traditional children’s calendars that focus on anticipation and small treats, adult versions often contain full-sized products wrapped in multiple layers of packaging.

The trend reflects broader concerns about holiday consumption patterns and their environmental impact. Each calendar typically contains 24 individually packaged items, multiplying packaging waste significantly compared to conventional gift-giving. Environmental advocates worry that many of these products end up unused, contributing to household waste streams during an already consumption-heavy season.

This pushback against adult advent calendars highlights the ongoing tension between creative marketing strategies and sustainable consumption practices. As retailers continue to develop new ways to extend traditional holiday customs into adult markets, environmental groups are calling for consumers to consider the ecological footprint of these trendy but potentially wasteful holiday purchases.