cheap junk that someone bought just to satisfy some social construct. Thousands of rubbish presents that adults gave each other in 'Secret Santa/Kris Kringle' at work. And all the associated packaging.
Agree entirely - I have managed persuade MG not to have Kris Kringle this year - none of the kids need anymore toys (several people had already bought stuff showing how ingrained the idea is - they will just go to others now). I particularly like your phrase "to satisfy some social construct" and think this applies at so many occasions, I often read and hear about people hating lists of all kinds or requests for money not gifts because it "takes away their joy of buying" but getting something you want or money to buy something wanted is really the best thing environmentally. I can never understand why people can not respect my wishes and give me the gift of "nothing".

Re-gifting is fine but it doesn't stop the things being produced in the first place using up valuable resources. I particularly hate when you see whole racks devoted to "Stocking Fillers" - what happened to stuffing a stocking with an orange - and it seems that shops are in on the whole Secret Santa thing too with areas for Secret Santa presents.

I do think sometimes plastic is given a hard time - in some forms plastic presents are fantastic - they last multiple life-times (duplo my kids have was mine when I was a child - and anyone who bins lego or duplo should be fined in my opinion) - playmobil again we have from when I was a child. In addition to the focus on cheap plastic items, the focus really should be on the amount of items regardless of whether they are plastic, wooden or expensive.

The kids get presents from in-laws (clothing - is all I allow them to send because I don't buy any myself for them) & mum and dad will send present back with my brother after Christmas - stuff from Father Christmas has come from Salvos and from us I am converting some furniture into a dolls house and a play kitchen - that way when they are too old for it it can go back to being furniture. All the furniture for dolls house I am making from stuff I have recycled or got from Resource Rescue. I have never been so excited about a present for them before - hours and hours and hours of pleasure it is giving me making the stuff. All our decorations this year are from Resource Rescue or saved cards and again it really makes me feel festive making them. It is also important I think that little ones see the making of decorations and presents - then grow up thinking that is how you get decorations and making or opshopping presents is what you do rather than go to a shop and buy them - is about breaking those ingrained social constructs for the next generation.

We don't do presents really for each other and all other family in the UK (my side gave up doing presents long ago even when we were in the UK, and DH's are getting there) - we wrap up stuff we already have so can open something with the kids on Christmas day. Money we get given for children use for Zoo membership, Museum membership etc. and DD really wants to go on a horse and carriage round city so will probably do that as a gift too from someone. I think experiences are great as presents as long as people don't then say have to get them something little to open on the day too.