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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent

‘Superfluous consumerism’: adult Advent calendar trend alarms green groups

Daniel Webb IPSOS Liberty
Liberty men’s advent calendar 2025.
Liberty men’s Advent calendar 2025. Ipsos found seven in 10 Britons purchase an Advent calendar, of which 15% were beauty product ones. Photograph: Courtesy Photo

The trend for Advent calendars aimed at adults is “superfluous consumerism” that adds to excessive and wasteful consumption, according to environmental groups.

While once children excitedly opened a door each day to see what festive picture lay behind it, adults can now count down the days to Christmas with calendars containing everything from luxury beauty products to instant mashed potato.

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