Bigger and bigger sales in stores, a flood of newsletters in email inboxes, continuous, almost aggressive advertising online; this is when we know that Black Friday has begun , which encourages us to shop with so many discounts.
Black Friday has been a significant phenomenon in the United States since 1966 , but in Hungary it was first celebrated on November 28, 2014. We may not even know how much of a human background story there is to the launch of this now sometimes unethical shopping promotion campaign.
In the United States, since Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, workers often called in sick on Fridays . In addition to resting up after the previous evening's holiday, they also went shopping for Christmas. Stores noticed the increased revenue at this time and began advertising promotions to attract more customers later.
Nowadays, Cyber Monday is also included, which is advertised by companies on the Monday following Black Friday, specifically encouraging consumers to shop online.
And while we might think that actions can't hurt, let's look at the impact this day has on our planet globally!
The truly dark side of Black Friday
Black Friday deals are hard to miss, and that's why they lead to impulsive, thoughtless purchases. They can lead to us adding products to our physical or virtual shopping carts that we may not actually need. The end result, however , is unnecessary CO2 emissions, waste accumulation, and even disappointment that our homes have been enriched with an unnecessary item that seemed like a good idea to buy when the red sale sign flashed next to it.
In recent years, the pandemic has already led to a shift to online shopping, which can have a larger overall carbon footprint than an average in-store purchase due to the energy required to operate warehouses and emissions from home delivery. Last year, Black Friday week was estimated to have released 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 from trucks transporting goods across Europe . This is 94% more than an average week.
But it is not just the increased number of deliveries that is responsible for the increase in carbon emissions. It is worth considering the entire life cycle of the product , which includes production, packaging, transportation, waste and the final use of the products.
We can easily order almost anything from the online store from home, using our phone.
Increased waste volume
Waste is a major problem that comes to the fore during Black Friday. Deep discounts and cheap products can easily convince shoppers to buy products they don’t need. According to the Green Alliance, up to 80% of products purchased during Black Friday, including packaging, are thrown away after a few uses , and some are never used at all. In the United States, for example, waste increases by 25% between Black Friday and New Year’s Eve in recent years.
Additionally, many products that are not thrown away are returned to stores by customers. This does not mean that they will be sold again, especially if stores have already replaced their stock with seasonal Christmas offerings. This can lead to even more waste, as these products often end up in landfills.
Ethical consequence
In addition to the waste and unnecessary CO2 emissions, Black Friday also has a lot of ethical implications. Due to the increased demand for goods , employees are often overworked, not to mention underpaid . At Amazon, for example, more than 1,000 workers went on strike at a warehouse in Coventry this month over pay and working conditions - and more strikes are planned for Black Friday. If a brand is pricing its products too low, listen to your instincts and do your research before you buy!
Moreover, domestic retailers have no chance to compete with big international brands . But this period is also stressful for shoppers. Limited-time promotions increase irritability, and in order to get their hands on a product, they often resort to violence. Between 2006 and 2018, approximately 12 deaths and 117 injuries occurred as a result of Black Friday intrusions and arguments.
But enough of the depressing data, let's replace them with a solution that will finally give us a breath of fresh air! Let's learn about Green Friday and similar solutions for this period.
How can I make Black Friday sustainable?
As a consumer society, we are almost addicted to shopping, as it is therapeutic and rewarding. One of the psychological reasons we overbuy is that shopping – especially when it’s on sale – gives us a dopamine rush , which is the hormone responsible for our happiness and well-being. But luckily, there are ways to greener our shopping habits!
Participate in the Green Friday initiative
Green Friday is the eco-friendly version of Black Friday . Its goal is to remind us to take care of ourselves and our planet even on this day.
Green Friday is an anti-Black Friday movement launched in 2015 to raise awareness of the negative effects of society's shopping habits. The first version of the event was organized in Canada in 1992 and became known as "Buy Nothing Day". The movement encouraged consumers to shop ethically and responsibly , by purchasing from sustainable, fair trade brands, or by not buying anything at all.
Essentially, this is an initiative where brands and stores want to give back to the environment rather than take from us when we buy from them . At the same time, the movement also encourages people to spend more time in nature.
Green Friday now has several official ambassadors, including representatives from the European Commission, ECODES, WWF and Ecoserveis, who all emphasize that we should meet our needs through our shopping habits while respecting the environment.
Designer brand pieces or second hand Buying handmade clothes has a lower environmental impact
Green Friday opportunities
If you want to shop on this day, focus on products from sustainable and ethical brands . Browse their websites to see which brands offer such products!
Also, when shopping, always ask yourself the question : Do I really need this product, or am I just buying it because of the discounted price? – By answering this, you can avoid unnecessary hoarding!
But not only on Black Friday, but all year round, you can decide to buy less. And if you need inspiration on how to do it, follow authentic brands! Pioneers of domestic sustainability topics include Eszter Mengyán , Felelős Gasztrohős , and Humusz Szövetség .
Furthermore, you can always buy recycled items , whether it's second-hand clothing or furniture.
Check out the sustainability events here! Participate in the Humusz Szövetség's Lantern Trail Walk and Discussion program , or visit the JOICO Hungary Green Friday Clothing Exchange event.
And keep these three principles in mind when shopping:
Make a list - this will help you stay conscious when shopping
Set a budget - so you know your limits and can avoid overspending
Get to know local brands and small businesses – and the opportunities to support them
Shouldn't you be shopping in November at all?
No, you don't have to stop shopping completely in November. If everyone stopped shopping, some companies would even go bankrupt, especially smaller, domestic businesses. Participating in the Green Friday initiative does not mean that we have to completely refrain from shopping , it simply encourages everyone not to fall into the trap of sales and to be more conscious in our shopping habits. In this way, we protect the environment by reducing CO2 emissions and our contribution to e-waste.
How can brands take advantage of Green Friday?
Consumer habits are changing, and as millennials and millennials become more active shoppers, sustainability is becoming increasingly important to them. According to a recent study , the majority of millennial consumers are willing to spend up to 10% more on environmentally friendly products . Brands can therefore take advantage of Green Friday by, among other things, making their customers aware of their commitment to sustainable values in the following ways:
They offer discounts on sustainable products
Instead of offering store-wide discounts, companies can highlight their local and low-impact products.
Organizing events and workshops
On this day, businesses can hold workshops and events that focus on sustainability. At these events, they can educate participants, perhaps with experts, on relevant topics such as circular fashion, zero-waste living, or the slow food initiative.
Workshops can be not only informal, but also creative and craft-based.
Donations
However, a company's Green Friday campaign can also include donating a certain or full percentage of their revenue that day to an environmentally friendly cause.
Recycling
Most of the items we throw away could still be used for a while. Companies can even organize a campaign on this day to recycle such items. For example, IKEA bought back and resold items that its customers no longer needed in 2021.
Look for initiatives like this and similar ones!
Examples of brands participating in the Green Friday initiative
Eco-friendly, ethical brands are taking different approaches to Black Friday, including boycotting the sale altogether. Patagonia is among those brands that have decided not to participate in Black Friday at all. The brand also has a commitment to sustainability, including donating 1% of its profits to environmental causes.
And in 2020, 100% of Black Friday sales were donated to such programs. The brand has other exemplary campaigns, such as the Worn Wear program, details of which can be read here .
More and more brands operating with sustainable models are retreating behind the scenes of Black Friday or are finding alternative solutions, as is the case with Patagonia.
But we can also find a solution where companies operating with the same model offer discounts specifically on their sustainability-related products. This includes many international brands, such as Fjällräven or Ocean Bottle .
However, even big brands such as Apple or Monki are not taking advantage of the opportunities offered by Black Friday this year.
CYCLE and Green Friday
This year, instead of encouraging everyone to shop with bigger and bigger promotions , CYCLE wanted to draw attention to the opportunities of Green Friday and the sustainability model behind our cleaning products.
We encourage our customers to recycle by using recycled materials in our work!
CYCLE cleaning products are made from recycled, plant-based natural ingredients. Our goal is to offer an eco-friendly solution that effectively simplifies the steps of non-toxic cleaning, at an affordable price. Browse the products and find the most ideal formula for you!
CYCLE 10X refillable concentrate on the go
For example, you only need to buy our 10X refill concentrates once, and then you can refill them forever . This means you don’t have to keep buying new bottles, which reduces your CO2 footprint and uses 75% less plastic in the packaging.
Browse our products on the website, read our blog articles , and spend Green Friday with us in a stress-free and sustainable way!
Additional resources:
https://clickatree.com/en/stories/green-friday
https://www.thooja.com/blog/green-friday
https://www.dw.com/en/the-environmental-impact-of-black-friday/a-63875495
https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/blog/black-friday/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/amazon-strike-black-friday-b2451030.html
