Festive hacks 1: The beer box that turns into a charity parcel

Whose is this idea then? Step up to the rostrum – UK clothing charity Traid and London brewers Camden Town Brewery.

Boxing Day redefined

What’s the hack?Ever got the feeling that people are staring while you carry your Christmas booze to the supermarket checkout? Well, no longer. Now you can walk the walk of the righteous and the just while shouting loudly “Don’t judge me, it’s all for charity”. Because praise be, Camden Town Brewery has designed a beer box that doubles up as a freepost clothes donation box for Traid.

Tell me more. Introducing the 12-Pack Give Back’ initiative. These Christmas-spirited beer people have redesigned their Camden Hells Lager 12-pack boxes into reusable collection parcels for customers who don’t have a clothes recycling point nearby. Or a Traid shop. Or perhaps the opening hours clash with their working time. Or whatever.

Either way, this is what you do: enjoy your Camden Hells lager, fill your empty Camden Hells box with clothes, re-seal securely and take it to your local post office. Show the cashier the Freepost label (Freepost 12-PACK GIVE BACK) pre-printed on the top of the box and bob’s your uncle.

AdvantagesYou get to clear out your wardrobe and do good for the world while drinking beer. What more do you need? Fashion is one of the most wasteful industries there is but Traid will ensure that your clothes either go to a new home or get sold to textile companies or get re-used for car seat filling and so forth. And did we mention you also get to drink beer.

Any disadvantages? It’s limited edition and only lasts until end of March 2020. So get on with it.

Let’s talk money? Retails at around £13-£16 and available right now at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison’s, Waitrose and Ocado.

Anything else? Yes. If all this is not enough, there is even a related pop-up shop with personal styling gurus on tap happening on Saturday December 7 at Camden’s Brewery Bar, 55-59 Wilkins Street Mews, Kentish Town between 12-4pm. It will feature vintage and curated pieces from Traid’s estate of shops and anyone donating clothing on that day will get a free pint of Hells as a thank-you. Let the rummaging commence.  But probably not straight after drinking all the contents of your 12-pack box.