ING helps Aussies give a gift that won’t go to waste and will give back to society this Father’s Day.

• 64% of Aussie dads admit their kids have wasted money on Father’s Day gifts they don’t want
• Eco-dads are on the rise. 77% of dads want gifts that gives back to social or environmental causes
• Almost half of dads (43%) admit they have received Father’s Day gifts that have never been used or worn
• 78% of Australians think dads are the hardest family member to buy gifts for

27 August 2018: Aussie dads have spoken and it’s clear that socks and ties aren’t on the wish-list this Father’s Day. New research by ING reveals that two-thirds of dads (64%) feel their kids are wasting money on their Father’s Day gifts and 43% admit they receive gifts that go unused or are never worn.

Findings released by ING also found that Australians are spending an average of $65 each and wasting an accumulative $58.2 million on unused gifts on Father’s Day each year.

“Melanie Evans, ING’s Head of Retail Banking, said: “Our research shows that dads are the hardest family member to buy for, and as a result, it’s leaving many Aussies buying clichéd gifts that go unused or unworn by dad.

“Not only is giving an unwanted gift a waste of money, many of these unused gifts end up in landfill.”

“This Father’s Day we want to encourage Aussies to wrap up something dad will actually want but is also ethically made and good for the planet, something that powers a positive change in Australia and beyond.

“With our Gifts That Give online shop you’ll find a bunch of unique gifts from the ING Dreamstarter community. Every gift on the site gives back to the community thanks to the passionate social entrepreneurs behind them.”

Dreamstarter is an initiative designed by ING to help launch and support social businesses looking to make a real difference within the community. This involves crowdfunding, scholarships and grants to social entrepreneurs that aim to have real impact across Australia.

Are Aussies good gift-givers? Dads are often gifted clichéd gifts even though his family knows he won’t put them to use

While nearly half of Aussie dads admit to having not used their Father’s Day gifts, 76% of Australians have confessed to giving their dad, husband or partner a clichéd gift on Father’s Day. And just one in five (20%) say they always feel proud of the gift they have given their Dad, husband or partner on his special day.

Research findings also reveal that Aussies are only spending an average of 1.5 days thinking about, researching and shopping for a gift on Father’s Day, with 3.2 million Aussies usually ending up rushing to buy a gift the day before.

What dads really want: the rise of ‘eco Dads’ is evident as more fathers appreciate ethical gifting and are teaching their kids how to be more sustainable.

With the most common gifts Dads receive on Father’s Day to be personal care items such as shavers, deodorant and aftershave (50%), socks (44%) and wallets (38%), Aussies dads are prepared to give up the clichéd gifts for a gift that gives back to the community.

77% of Aussie dads said they would like to be gifted a gift that gives back to a social or environmental causes which aligns with their values.

This comes off the back of a rise in ‘eco-dads’ – a trend which sees as more than nine in ten Aussie dads (92%) doing things in their household to help teach their kids about living sustainably.

“As Aussie dads become more environmentally conscious and sustainable in their thinking and doing, it’s clear that we need to follow in their footsteps when gifting on Dad’s special day.

“The social enterprises we work alongside as part of our Dreamstarter programme are helping bridge that gap between unique, quality gifts that also give back to local communities and the environment.” Evans added.

Five sustainable gifts that give back this Father’s Day

• Will & Bear: William Brown Hats – Will & Bear have partnered with trees.org to plant 10 trees for every hat sold. Not only leaving dad stylish but giving back to the environment.
• Crema Joe: SealPod Coffee Bundle – Crema Joe has developed stainless steel, reusable coffee pods to eliminate any impact of their packaging on landfill. The perfect gift for any dad who enjoys a warm brew and eliminating waste.
• Seljak Brand: Indigo Whipstitch – Made from 70% recycled Australian merino wool and a 30% blend of recycled alpaca, mohair and a touch of polyester, these closed-loop blankets won’t end up in landfill and will keep dad warm all year round.
• Surf Sock: The Sustainable Surfing Pack – Surf Socks are made from sail offcuts destined for landfill – they’re strong, reusable and 100% recycled. Along with a bamboo-made wax comb and a cake of Froth surf wax that doesn’t come off in the ocean, you can help dad surf sustainably.
• Two Good Co: Care Pack – Buy a salon-quality care pack for dad and Two Good Co. will give another to a safe house, where it touches the lives of women and children seeking refuge. This pack includes 250ml luxe shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser and body wash, with all bottles made from 100% recycled plastics.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

• David Breen, 0412 933 060, breen@ing.com.au
• Megan Landauro, 0413 317 225, landauro@ing.com.au

Notes to editors:

• This study was conducted by YouGov Galaxy in August 2018. The sample comprises of two groups:
  • 1003 national sample of Australians aged 18 years and older
  • 1002 Australian Dads aged 18 years and older
• Age, gender and region quotas were applied to the sample.
• Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.

About ING

ING changed the way Australians bank 19 years ago by launching the country’s first high interest, fee free online savings account. Since then, we’ve brought continued value to home loans, transactional banking, superannuation, insurance, credit cards and personal loans.

ING has the highest Net Promoter Score of any Australian bank.

Australia’s most recommended bank.

Source: Nielsen Consumer & Media View Sep’17- Feb’18 (n = 11,469) when compared by customers of 15 other banks operating in Australia.