Let’s turn Black Friday into Green Friday this year! Black Friday has become an American holiday. Every year, for the last ten years, I’ve headed to the stores with my best friend to scour the isles for deals, savings, and the latest gift trends. Now that I am trying to embrace eco-conscious living in every aspect of my life, that means I have to think a little differently about Black Friday as well. This year, I want to turn Black Friday into Green Friday!
Now, let’s be honest. Although we’d like to say that spending time with family trumps going out shopping, our history has shown us otherwise. We love to shop so much, we couldn’t wait until the Friday AFTER Thanksgiving, we needed to get started on the day of. Our society loves to shop. It makes us feel good, provides an immediate reward, and makes us feel like each item we purchase is needed for a better life.
After watching the Netflix series, the Minimalist, and reading and adopting Project 333, I have a completely different mindset about consumption, owning more “stuff” and what we actually need in our lives. It is with this mindset that I want to turn Black Friday into Green Friday.
Are you considering being more eco-friendly this holiday? Let’s rethink how we think about Black Friday this year and celebrate a more eco-friendly Green Friday.
Here is how to celebrate Green Friday this year!
What is Green Friday?
Green Friday is the same day as Black Friday. This year it is Friday, November 24. On Green Friday, consumers are encouraged to choose sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Black Friday shopping.
As a society, we are addicted to shopping. Personally, I struggle with this too. For so long shopping has been therapeutic, rewarding and a hobby of mine. I buy stuff because it’s on sale, I “need” it, I’ll need it one day, it’s on-trend, or it’ll help me with a certain problem I’m having in my life.
According to research, in 2020 shoppers spent an average of $311.75 on items during Black Friday weekend. In 2019 shoppers spent an average of $361.80 and about $313.29 in 2018. We love to shop and we like to do it big!
The problem with overconsuming on Black Friday:
Money
According to Money, one of the psychological reasons people over-shop is because you get a burst of dopamine, a feel-good hormone, that comes with buying, especially buying on sale. Research has found that people who are focused on sales tend to buy more than those who don’t. It is always better to buy good-quality, durable items than buy poorly made items you don’t need for the sake of a sale.
Mental Health
There are studies that have confirmed overconsumption actually makes us unhappy! This is because as mentioned above, the burst of dopamine is short. We need to find another boost after this feel-good hormone dissipates and end up purchasing more. In addition, consumerism often connects to insecurities, and comparisons, and is linked to lower life satisfaction (source)
Environment
There is no denying the link between overconsumption and climate change. Anytime an item is produced, it requires resources. When we are at the store purchasing an item, we often don’t consider the resources used to make the item and how the extraction of those resources impacts the environment. However, many of the resources we rely the most heavily on creating greenhouse gas emissions contributing to our climate crisis. In addition, we live in a world with only a certain amount of resources, if we continue to waste those resources by overconsuming, we can expect that the Earth will have trouble continuing to sustain us.
How to Turn Black Friday into Green Friday:
1. Make a list
Without a list, the chances of me forgetting an item or buying things I don’t need is incredibly high. Making a list helps you focus and remain intentional about your purchases. This is not only beneficial for your wallet, but also for the environment.
Turn Black Friday into Green Friday by making a list! If you’re going to shop this season, decide ahead of time exactly what you’re going to shop for. Create a list of who you want to buy presents for, what you’d like to buy them for, and how much you’d like to spend. I love this quote from Dave Ramsey that says “Christmas is not an emergency. It doesn’t sneak up on you. Lack of planning is not an excuse to use credit cards.” Now, of course, Dave Ramsey is talking about Christmas in relation to going into debt, but the same applies this Green Friday. Planning makes a difference.
2. Set up a budget
Speaking of Dave Ramsey, let’s talk about budgeting. If you’re looking to turn Black Friday into Green Friday, set a budget for yourself. This aligns perfectly with making your list. Decide how much you would like to spend and stick to that number. This prevents you from overspending because you found a “good deal”.
3. Consider sustainable brands
Black Friday deals are incredibly enticing, businesses and brands plan for them year-round. If you didn’t plan on buying the item – no matter how good the deal is – be prepared to walk away. Living a more eco-conscious life requires us to perfect the art of “no” especially when it comes to buying items we don’t need that will end up wasted.
If you’re going to shop this Black Friday, consider shopping for sustainable brands! One of my favorite quotes ever is by Anna Lappe – “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
There is so much power in what we buy! Mindfully and intentionally shopping with brands that are dedicated to sustainably operating is so important.
Here are some things to look for from companies when shopping for sustainable brands:
- B Corporation: Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
- Fair Trade Certified: the Fair Trade Certified™ seal signifies that the product was grown, harvested, or made with care by farmers and workers according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.
- 1% for the Planet: 1% for the Planet is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through annual memberships and everyday actions.
Here are some brands to consider shopping from:
- Earth Hero (eco swap shop)
- Poplinen (sustainable fashion)
- Grove (eco-cleaning shop)
- Plaine Products (natural and sustainable hair care products)
- Blue Urbane (sustainable fashion) – get 15% off with code TeachGoGreen15
- Tiny Yellow Bungalow (eco swap shop)
2023 Black Friday Deals:
- Blueland: up to 30% off Blueland Cleaning Products
- Stasher: up to 40% off Stasher Reusable “Ziploc” Pouches
- Hydroflask: the better than Stanley reusable bottles are 25%o off
- All Birds Running Shoes: sustainably made running shoes deals
- Pact: Organic basics with up to 70% off
- Earth Hero: an eco shop with hundreds of eco friendly products
- Caraway Cookware: up to 20% off my absolute favorite non-toxic, beautifully made cookware
Paravel: 30% off sitewide on travel essentials made with recycled material
LEGOs
LEGO has been working to create LEGOS with more sustainable materials. This means the “material must be responsibly produced, using renewable or recyclable resources, generate little or no waste, use more sustainable chemistry -while meeting high standards for safety, quality, and durability (source). LEGO has started making their bricks with bio-polyethylene made from Brazillian sugarcane and is experimenting with LEGOs made from recycled materials.
- City Fire Station Set with Garage, Helicopter & Fire Engine
- LEGO Advent Calendar
- LEGO Technic Jeep Wrangler
- LEGO Friends
Melissa and Doug Toys
Melissa and Doug toys are made from wood. Wooden toys are not only timeless but also incredibly durable and long-lasting. These toys are made with FSC (Forest Steward Council) Certified Paper and Wood. In addition, these toys are made with sustainable packaging with specific instructions about how to recycle each piece.
- Melissa and Doug Wooden Building Blocks
- Melissa and Doug Top & Bake Wooden Pizza Counter Playset
- Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter
- Slick and Stack Sandwich Counter Pretend Play Food Pieces
4. Consider sustainable swaps as gifts
I’m taking full advantage of the holiday season to introduce my friends and family to sustainable sways this holiday season. If you’re going to buy during the holiday weekend, turn Black Friday into Green Friday by purchasing sustainable swaps as gifts!
If there is one thing we know, it is that no one person is going to solve our climate crisis. We need to all do the best we can in order to ensure our planet is livable and enjoyable for the rest of our lives and the lives of future generations.
While I know the government and businesses still need to make sweeping legislation and large changes to help with our climate crisis, we too can make a difference with our behaviors. Shifting our mindset and our lifestyle will help to encourage wide-scale changes. Introducing loved ones to sustainable swaps as gifts could help them begin to make more sustainable choices in their lives that will ultimately benefit the planet.
- Check out this blog post for 19 eco-friendly swaps.
- Check out this blog post for the 43 best eco-friendly gift ideas for everyone in your life.
5. Purchased refurbished electronics
In 2020, video game consoles and computers were at the top of Christmas wish lists (source). In fact, more than 2/3 of Americans purchased tech gifts last Christmas. It’s no secret that we live in a technological world. Our phones are glued to our hands, our eyes are glued to screens, and there is a way to “connect” just about anything. We are completely surrounded by technology. While this does have some benefits to the environment, overconsumption of technology can have a devastating impact on the environment.
When we continue to purchase the newest technology, replacing our “outdated” devices before we need to, we are continuing the massive amount of technological waste already existing in the world. What’s more, many of the “recycled” methods for technology really just dump our old devices in other countries.
Instead of purchasing new technology this Black Friday, celebrate a Green Friday by purchasing refurbished electronics.
Benefits of refurbished electronics:
- Cheaper
- New to you
- Less harmful to the environment
- A way to reuse technology
Many of the retailers and brands you are used to like Best Buy, Walmart, and Apple sell refurbished electronics. Find out more about refurbished electronics here.
6. Buy less
Perhaps you, like me, still enjoy celebrating Black Friday. Turn Black Friday into Green Friday by buying less. Instead of going to a bunch of different stores with no plans or opening your laptop and scouring online shops looking for deals, stick to a plan. As mentioned above, make a list and set a budget.
Committing to buying less is an incredible way to decrease your environmental impact this season.
If you’re not sure how to buy less consider these options:
- Have a minimal Christmas
- Set a present limit
- Don’t buy for as many people
- DIY gifts instead of buying them
- Purchase experiences
7. Skip shopping altogether
This is probably one of the most popular ways to turn your Black Friday into Green Friday – skip shopping altogether.
Again, our dollars have power. The statistics of the amount of money spent on Black Friday are pretty shocking. Reducing the amount we collectively spend by skipping shopping during Black Friday would definitely send a message. What’s the message – that a massive shopping day of consumption is wasteful and harmful to our planet?
8. Shop second hand
Shopping second-hand is one of the best ways to reuse materials that already exist. Instead of purchasing new items that need virgin materials to make, try celebrating Green Friday by purchasing second-hand. Toys, clothing, and even cute stocking stuffers can be found at your local thrift stores.
If you’d rather purchase online, try checking out some of these second-hand shops:
- Thred Up
- Facebook Market Place
- Poplinen Pre-Loved
9. Avoid fast fashion
I talk a lot about fast fashion in this blog post. Fast Fashion is a term used to describe fashion brands that participate in the production of cheap, readily available clothing usually made by people in other, less developed countries who are experiencing unfair pay and poor working conditions.
These brands usually produce this new, cheap clothing constantly, encouraging you to keep purchasing and making you feel like you have to keep up with the latest trends. Because of this, you keep purchasing – either because the quality is poor and you have to rebuy, or because you want to stay on-trend.
Regardless, it creates a mass surplus of textiles that often aren’t recycled and end up in landfills. If you are someone who donates your clothing instead of throwing it away. This is amazing. But also consider – do you shop second-hand for clothing? If you’re continuing to purchase new clothing just to donate it a short time later but never purchasing donated clothing, we are still contributing to the problem of overconsumption.
Consider the sustainable brands mentioned above and choose to shop from brands that create lasting, good quality clothing and value the individuals who created the clothing.
10. Shop local and/or support small businesses
Turn Black Friday into Green Friday by shopping small this year!
“Giving a gift from a small business is giving a gift twice.” You’re not only purchasing a thoughtful gift for the person in your life, but you’re also supporting someone else’s dream by supporting their business. In the height of 2020, many people began (re)discover hobbies and turn them into businesses.
One of my favorite things to do with my family is to visit farmers’ markets. I love finding small local businesses with unique gifts to give to others.
My favorite place to find new small businesses to Etsy. From handmade items to personalized toys, Etsy is a great place to shop small. You can shop my Etsy shop here!
11. Spend time in nature
Instead of continuing to keep the focus of the day on shopping turn Black Friday into Green Friday by spending time in nature. Some of the benefits of spending time in nature include.
Here are some ways to spend time in nature this Green Friday:
- Go on a walk
- Go on a hike
- Visit a local waterway
- Visit the Farmer’s Market
- Prep your garden for winter
- Create DIY bird feeders
- Enjoy a bonfire
12. Create a new tradition
Sometimes the best way to change a habit, like Black Friday shopping, is to redirect. Create a new Green Friday tradition that pays respect to the environment as opposed to participating in overconsumption on traditional black Friday.
13. Unsubscribe
The Black Friday marketing will be coming in HOT! To turn this Black Friday into a Green Friday, unsubscribe from email lists of places you no longer shop or no longer want to shop. This will help you avoid purchasing items you don’t need for the sake of a sale.
In addition, emails carry a carbon footprint! Deleting emails can actually help decrease CO2 (carbon dioxide), a greenhouse gas. A study found that the average number of emails a year emits the same number of carbon dioxide equivalent to driving 200 miles in a gas-powered car!
Deleting emails and unsubscribing helps to save you money and decrease your environmental impact on this Green Friday.
Here are the 13 ways you can challenge yourself to turn Black Friday into Green Friday:
- Make A List
- Set Up A Budget
- Consider Sustainable Brands
- Consider Sustainable Swaps as Gifts
- Purchase Refurbished Electronics
- Buy Less
- Skip Shopping Altogether
- Shop Secondhand
- Shop Small
- Avoid Fast Fashion
- Spend Time In Nature
- Create A New Tradition
- Unsubscribe
Will you celebrate Green Friday? I hope you enjoyed this blog post all about turning Black Friday into Green Friday
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Wow, I love receiving these blogs in my email. I’m so glad I signed up! I think we are going to take your recommendation and go on a hike this year for Black Friday. We definitely don’t want to spend if we don’t have too.
Derrick,
Thank you so much for signing up for alerts! That helps support me so much. I appreciate you for reading my blog and turning Black Friday into Green Friday this year!