No, no the discussion is not about re-gifting that ugly sweater from your Aunt Mildred to another unsuspecting soul in your circle of friends and relations; it is instead about gifts made of plastic, which at some point in the supply chain involve a process of re-usability (no worries here of reading that nasty "g" word which rhymes with 'mean').

Longing for the traditional, good old holiday spirit of the 1960's or 70s? Then head on over to eBay for vintage blow moulded outdoor holiday figures – from the entire nativity scene to snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer (flying and landed), Snoopy and assorted elves in all shapes and poses – sold at reasonable prices, if your bid of course is the highest. Who would have thought back then that these items would become collectables!

How about a lamp for the ceiling or your home office desk? In the UK, award-winning artist Sarah Turner (www.sarahturner.co.uk) creates items for the home or office using recyclables such as PET bottles.

Looking for something more DIY? There are videos on YouTube demonstrating how – in a few easy steps – you can turn your plastic packaging into shimmering holiday ornaments for the tree or for your windows. There are also numerous websites with step-by-step videos for building your own Christmas tree from used plastic bottles if you hate the idea of having a live one.

What to do with leftover Lego pieces? No worries, just turn them into earrings, bracelets or necklaces as described here.

Another do-it-yourself website provides practical tips for using beverage bottles as containers for shipping small holiday gifts to someone on your list. But remember, the clock is ticking with only four more days to complete your shopping...