This weekend we will be seeing many shops and retailors across the country preparing to slash prices in preparation for Black Friday. Many businesses have been known to record some of their highest profits on Black Fridays but it’s also know to put incredible pressure on small businesses to slash their prices to compete with high end brands.
As a sustainable brand we have decided not to participate in Black Friday and instead we have joined the Green Friday Movement.
We believe 100% in sustainable change, positive impact, and healthy choices! We often get caught up in the widespread sales and flashy campaigns which leads us to buy impulsively and buy things we don’t want/need in the name of a 'bargain'.
Therefore, this year we are saying goodbye to Black Friday, and we are going Green instead.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday has become a retail phenomenon in the last 20 odd years, it was originally referring to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Many retailers offered highly promoted sales on Black Friday and opened very early. Black Friday has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States since at least 2005. It has now been part of the UK and the wider and takes place both in store and online shopping.
Black Friday now is associated with huge discounts resulting in impulse buys (of stuff you don’t really ‘need’) and overconsumption of our planet’s oh-so-limited resources. Every year, widespread sales and flashy campaigns push us to shop in the name of ‘bargain.’ In fact Consumers are expected to spend a total of £9.42 billion throughout the Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday in 2021.
What is the Green Friday?
There is a new cultural movement known as Green Friday, which encourages consumers not to make impulsive buys and instead to make conscious choices that will have a positive impact on the planet. For example buying sustainable brands, donating to charity or volunteering. While it can be difficult to resist those low sales tags, research says most shoppers tend to buy more than they need (or even want) and instead end up wasting their money rather than saving.
Charity shops such as Oxfam noted during its 'Second-hand September' campaign, "every week 13 million items of clothing ends up in UK landfill" and adds that throwaway fashion is putting "increasing pressure" on our planet and its people.
With the recent 2021 climate change conference which highlighted the urgent need for change and our environmental impacts. We need to reconsider our Black Friday and Cyber Monday buying habits and to make more careful and sustainable purchase choices. COP26 has made it clear that global warming isn’t getting any better, and it’s crucial that not only businesses make it their responsibility to make greener choices, but the consumer needs to also make the correct decision.
How can I shop sustainable?
If you can't resist not buying anything this Friday here are a few tips in shopping more sustainable whether you shop this weekend or with any future purchases
Ask yourself these three questions;
Do you really need it?
Are you buying it from a big brand?
Could you get this from a small/local/sustainable brand?
Shop with sustainable brands. By increasing the demands for sustainable products, retailers will be forced to rethink their eco-friendly packaging/service.
Avoid Impulse buying- instead use the 24 hour rule. Wait 24 hours before you buy an item to really know if you need it or want it.
Research the product and the company! This will mean you will likely make a purchase a product you need, is beneficial and you will most likely to use.
Say NO to single-use products! In doing this and choosing reusable products or products that have reusable packaging, you will help reduce plastic pollution and waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
We are committed to sustainable packaging; we take a zero plastic approach to our packing and try to ensure that the methods we use help reduce our carbon footprint. We are 100% committed to promote a healthy and sustainable living and delivering products that serve a greater good for your health.
