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Black Friday has to be canceled — that’s what we’ve been recently hearing from many environmentalists and sustainable businesses alike. But does it? Or should we simply look for alternatives that are kinder to our planet, like Green Friday, for example? Let’s take a broader look at this issue.
Why we don’t need Black Friday in 2023 (or ever again)
We value honesty above everything, and here’s our take: no company is or can be 100% sustainable — otherwise, it simply wouldn’t exist. Every single thing human beings create has an imprint, but it doesn’t mean they should stop doing that altogether.
When it comes to selling products, all businesses rely on sales to grow. Customers, on the other hand, are happy to get items at a discount, especially if they wouldn’t be able to afford them at other times (and there’s nothing wrong with that if you ask us).
The real problem starts with mindless and impulsive shopping, overproduction, and overconsumption — eventually, all of these factors take a huge toll on the environment. In the case of Black Friday, it couldn’t be more evident. For instance, in the US alone, 15 million tons of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere due to e-commerce returns alone, which adds up to the equivalent of emissions from 3 million cars over a year.
Sounds bad, doesn’t it? The good news is, there’s something we can do about it.
Green Friday: a more ethical approach
As a sustainable business, we’ve always been looking for environmentally friendly solutions across the whole supply chain. Sourcing high-quality materials from trustable partners in France, producing rainwear in our home country of Lithuania, and dedicating 2% of every purchase to saving water birds are just a few among many. We also encourage our clients to focus on quality rather than quantity and invest in timeless pieces they’ll wear for years. You may be surprised to learn that Ducktail Rainwear raincoats still look almost like new even after 5 years of use — that’s what our clients say, anyway!
Naturally, our philosophy has led us to search for ethical sales strategies, too, one of them being the Green Friday initiative. We know, we know, anything that includes “green” may sound just like another greenwashing practice, but not in this case.
Green Friday started as an anti-Black Friday movement in 2015 to create awareness about the negative impacts of society’s shopping habits. The first version of this event can also be tracked to the 1992’s Canada, referred to as “Buy Nothing Day” at the time. Nowadays, Green Friday promotes sustainable and ethical shopping practices and encourages consumers to shop responsibly and buy less. It also advocates for businesses that are committed to social and environmental responsibility.
5 simple Green Friday tips you can start using right now
The beauty of changing our lives for the better is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some ways to incorporate Green Friday into your shopping:
- Shop local. Supporting local businesses not only helps cut your carbon footprint but also strengthens your community.
- Buy less but better. Prioritize quality over quantity and focus on items you genuinely need and will make use of.
- Choose products carefully. Look for products made from recycled materials and produced by ethical companies.
- Contribute to your community. Instead of more shopping, consider donating to a local charity or volunteering your time.
- Take a deep breath. Before feeling an urge to buy something, take a few mindful breaths and tune into your body. You will feel calmer, and your urge may diminish, too.
Finally, please remember this: we’re all on this journey together, and the more of us start taking small steps towards a conscious life and supporting each other, the more significant difference we’ll make. And yes, our beautiful planet will thank us, too.