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Green Friday: An Eco-Friendly Alternative to Black Friday

by Gabrielle Clawson ● November 12, 2024 ● 3 min read

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Black Friday's Eco-Friendly Alternative

You've eaten the turkey (or tofurkey) and stuffing, and you’ve even taken a go at the dessert table. Now, for some people, this would be the perfect time to settle in and catch up with family and friends after a great meal. For others, this is the time to start planning all of the Black Friday deals you want to take advantage of!

We are all familiar with this infamous retail holiday, and it comes earlier and earlier each year. And we get the excitement: in this economy, we're all looking for any way to save a buck.

While Black Friday is certainly great for finding amazing deals, this retail holiday isn’t so good for the environment. Many of the stores that promote Black Friday sales are major retailers that have a large carbon footprint. Black Friday deals also tend to promote fast fashion and consumerism, contributing to a sharp increase in waste around the holidays.

In response to this, Green Friday was born. Started to raise awareness of the impact our shopping habits can have on the planet, Green Friday – or the ‘anti-Black Friday movement’ – is an event that promotes mindful shopping and environmental appreciation. Its core values include:

Putting down devices in favor of spending time outdoors
Enjoying time with friends and family
Giving, sharing, and investing in worthwhile causes

Don't worry, though: you can still do your holiday shopping on a budget while also promoting environmentalism and supporting sustainable businesses. Let’s go over some ways you can help the planet this Green Friday!

SHOP AT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES

Sometimes, the hardest part of shopping sustainably is finding businesses that back up their eco-friendly claims. We can help you with that! Last holiday season, we put together the ultimate Eco-Friendly Gift Guide to help you find the best sustainable gifts for everyone on your list, and we will have a new gift guide for this year coming soon! The best part? Every brand featured on these lists supports reforestation.

PURCHASE HANDMADE ITEMS ON ETSY

Etsy is a one-stop shop for an incredible selection of handcrafted and customizable gifts created by small businesses around the world. Etsy also offsets 100% of its carbon emissions from packaging and shipping, so you can shop your list with a green conscience!

SHOP LOCAL

Supporting small businesses makes holiday gift shopping a much more meaningful experience. When you purchase an item from a large corporation, you're making a tiny contribution to their bottom line. When you purchase an item from a small business, you are helping someone keep doing what they love while feeding their family, keeping the lights on, and giving back to the community.

GIFT AN EXPERIENCE

Instead of a material gift, give them an experience that they will remember for years to come! There are so many different experiences to choose from, including a massage, an annual pass to their favorite museum, local art or cooking classes, a planned camping trip, or even a membership to a national park or botanical garden!

GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

Local bookstores are a great place to find meaningful gifts for loved ones while also being green and eco-friendly. Plus, supporting small businesses makes holiday gift shopping a much more meaningful experience. If you're looking for ideas, check out our list of the best books about climate change or the best books about nature and trees.

PLANT A TREE ON THEIR BEHALF!

Give the gift of trees this holiday season with One Tree Planted! By gifting trees in someone’s name, you are providing a heartfelt and everlasting way to show your appreciation and love while also making an immense environmental impact. Trees are the best gift you can give to someone you love this holiday season –– and the environment will love it too!

Green Friday is a great way to shop holiday deals while still being environmentally friendly. Make it the best holiday season yet by giving your loved ones gifts that will make an impact for years to come.