Our emails are flooded with offers, there are adverts everywhere you look...yep we all know it's Black Friday this month! It is so easy to get wrapped up in the buzz and convince yourself you need a new pair of boots (even though you just bought a pair last month). And we get it, the Black Friday offers seem too good to miss. But a study by Which? found that last year 1 in 5 of us regretted our Black Friday purchase. So this year we want to give you some tips on how to approach Black Friday a little more thoughtfully - here's to Green Friday.
Ask yourself the right questions
Don’t let the endless emails, adverts, and social media posts send you into a panic-buying maniac. Sales are a great way of buying something which is originally out of your budget but if you're planning on buying something during Black Friday, the focus should be on what you need. Ask yourself:
- Do I need this product (what value will it bring)?
- Do I love this product (will you wear/use it more than once)?
- Am I feeling pressured to buy this item I didn't set out to buy?
- How much single-use plastic has been used to get this product to me?
Think about the brand you're buying from
We know it is hard to resist a sale! But try to be mindful of who you are buying from. A great example of a completely transparent company, with quality lasting, and ethically made products is Patagonia. Read more about their Buy Less, Demand More campaign here.
When choosing your brand, think about the product material, are the materials used natural, sustainably sourced, organic or recycled? Also, consider who has made the product, and whether are they receiving a fair wage.
The product guarantee is also important as it should be an investment for life, not something that is thrown away as soon as it is damaged! It is also worth looking to see if the company gives back, a good sign of this would be looking to see if they have a charity partner.
Remember, these brands and businesses have a duty to be environmentally and socially conscious. Caring about people and the planet shouldn't make a company special, it should be a standard.
Support Small & Local for Green Friday
Holly Tucker, the founder of Not On The High Street, has launched Colour Friday as an exciting new annual alternative to Black Friday. This campaign encourages people to shop thoughtfully and independently, celebrating the colour and creativity of small businesses. Some of our favorite small businesses include:
- Maymaker Design House: beautiful, thoughtful, and sustainable stoneware and cards
- Hannah Bourn Jewellery: gorgeous, handmade jewelry from recycled silver and gold inspired by the beach and countryside
- BEEN: hand-made bags using recycled/upcycled materials
Give back
Ultimately, the best sustainable tip for Black Friday would be to not participate at all. Instead, you could give back. Here are some ideas of how to give back:
- Plant a tree, there are easy ways of doing this either through simply using a search engine like Ecosia, signing up to an app like More Trees, or signing up for a debit card like TreeCard.
- Donate to an ocean charity such as Coral Reef Alliance or The Ocean Cleanup
- Volunteer with your local Wildlife Trust
- Volunteer at a food bank
Go Second Hand
No need to wait for a sale when secondhand is always cheaper. This is the guaranteed way of shopping sustainably and finding unique pieces.
So instead of shopping for Black Friday deals you could spend the day second-hand shopping, upcycling your clothes, or sorting out your clothes to giveaway.
