Green Friday – what is it and what can you do to support it

While Black Friday may be very profitable for companies, it is not always beneficial for our planet. With some people shopping to excess and purchasing and purchasing unnecessary items, there is likely to be greater shipping which leads to higher CO2 emissions. The extra plastic packaging and older items (which might still be perfectly fine to use) often end up in landfills.

Over the last few years Green Friday has become more popular. This movement opposes the over consumption of Black Friday and encourages consumers to think and act sustainably. 

So… How can you support Green Friday?

In many ways really 🙂

For example….

You could practice Mindful shopping

We’re all tempted at times to buy more than we need and to get rid of things that are actually still fine to use. So before going on a shopping spree it’s good to take some time to reflect what you actually need to buy and why. 

• Do you have to replace the item? 
• Could it be fixed? 
• How often will you use the item? 
• Can you buy this sustainably? 
• How is it made?
• What will happen once you’re done with it? 
• How do you dispose of it? 
• What company are you supporting by buying it? 
• Does it match your values?

Mindful shopping is a great way to shop more sustainably.

Another great way of participating in Green Friday is by…

Shopping locally!

Why not support some small local business in your area? Supporting local producers is the easiest way to reduce the carbon footprints of your purchases. It can be so nice to just walk around your neighbourhood to discover local, unique little shops. Lots of them can be family run and provide personalised customer service! 

While this isn’t necessarily an option for everyone today due to lockdown restrictions – some local shops have innovative ways of delivering to the community – such as by bicycle. It’s always worth checking out.

Charity or second hand shops

Charity or second hand shops often contain hidden gems. You can discover so many pre-loved items, often for a lot cheaper than their original price! And by doing this you not only reuse items, but also reduce the demand for new products and their carbon footprint. If you buy from a charity shop you also support a good cause at the same time! 

And whatever you don’t need or want anymore you can donate to the shops yourself.

Borrow or swap

Did you know that there are tons of apps that allow you to share or borrow items rather than buy them new? 

How amazing is that?! 

Apps like Vinted and Swopped make it easy to exchange your pre-loved clothes with others online.

For DIY and gardening tools, travel, music equipment and a whole host of other items you might only need for a short time, apps such as Streetbank and Badlee offer a solution. 

If you’d rather visit a shop in person, the Library of Things in Crystal Palace, London is a nice option with an extensive catalogue of useful products that can be reserved online.

Recycle

Why not buy some recycled items as Christmas presents, better even if they can be recycled again! That way you’re gifting something not only to your loved one, but also to the planet by minimising the waste ending up in landfill!

Christmas present shopping 

We know Black Friday is really tempting for buying Christmas presents. And we understand that. But why not give your loved ones a different Christmas present this year? 

Instead of buying them an item you could gift them an activity you can do together, make a donation in their name, or maybe you could cook a nice meal for them and finish the evening with a games night. 

You could make some of our fantastic natural skin care products for a fraction of the price they would retail in the shops.  Check out some of our recipes, here

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