Black Friday is just around the corner. Hailed as the biggest shopping event of the year, it’s almost impossible to miss the mass sales, slashed prices and bold, ‘choose me!’ advertisements from brands online and off.
Whether you’re a 5am riser to get the best deals or a casual browser, there’s no denying that Black Friday is the event to bag a bargain. But it’s easy to forget that although the prices of our favourite products go down, the environmental cost does not. In fact, it tends to go up.
Here lies the problem: Black Friday is consumption-heavy. It’s very ethos is to buy more for less. Shop now, get this deal, save this amount, get this new trend, don’t miss out, avoid FOMO and buy, buy, buy. It’s a lot.
It breeds the mentality that we need to buy more (and buy new) to be happy. But is that truly the case? Can we be happier when we’re buying for the sake of a good deal? When the shiny new product sits unused on a shelf, or worse, in landfill, for years to come? When you look at the statistics, Black Friday weekend purchases from Amazon in 2020 alone emitted an estimated 18,854 tonnes of additional CO2. That’s not a happy figure.
We’re not telling you to avoid the event completely, though. That’s entirely your choice. The weekend bonanza can be a time to invest in things that we may otherwise not be able to afford, or that weren’t accessible before.
What we are saying is that we know you’re conscious of your environmental impact, sale season or not. If you’re taking part in the day but want to do it sustainably, here are 5 ways to do so…
Plan your Black Friday shopping in advance
This is the biggie. The sale season is designed in every way possible to influence us to shop. From the words used to the colours of advertisements, it’s all too easy to add another item to your basket without second thought.
To avoid unnecessary impulse buys, plan out what you need to get in advance. When it’s time to shop, pop your blinkers on and stick to the plan! If you didn’t need a new pair of boots before Black Friday, you won’t need them on Black Friday, either.
Choose sustainable brands
There are plenty of fantastic brands out there that are doing their bit to reduce their impact on the environment, so aim to shop with brands that prioritise sustainability. Look for recycled packaging, slow production and ethical values so that you know where your money is going.
Here at Halcyon Naturals, we always use vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, recyclable packaging and sustainably sourced essential oils. So if candles and delicious home scents are on your list (they make ideal Christmas gifts!), head to our Black Friday section to enjoy our Limited Edition Specials. Get up to 25% off and some beautifully scented bundles from 22nd to 29th November 2021. You can even nab a quarterly or yearly plan for our subscription box with a recurring 10% off! Delivered to your door, it contains a candle and self-care item that we know you deserve. Just use the code BFBOX.
And remember: if a brand’s values don’t align with your own, no deal can make them better. Is a £2 shirt worth it if it was made by a child in a sweatshop? We don’t think so.
Is a brand not doing Black Friday? Don’t be annoyed
You may find that a brand you love isn’t reducing their prices or offering any deals during the event, but the truth is that many smaller or independent brands simply cannot afford to do so.
Consider their reasoning behind keeping their prices consistent and if you love their products and support their mission, don’t call them out for not taking part – keep the positivity high!
Shop second hand
Shopping doesn’t always mean buying new. There are plenty of second-hand or pre-loved stores with items that need a new home, many of which will be brand new, just unwanted.
Instead of letting these perfectly good things go to waste, head to your local charity shop or online thrift store to check out their stock before going direct to the brand. You may be surprised to see that many of these stores offer Black Friday deals too, so you’re doing doubly good for both your wallet and the planet!
Check out Re-Fashion, Thrift+ or The Clearout Store to get started.
Out with the old, in with the new?
When you’re shopping for something new, consider what you’ll do with the old version you’re replacing.
We like to keep the 4 R’s in mind: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink.
Can you reduce your impact by minimising new purchases? Can you reuse items you already have? If not, aim to recycle the old products in the most sustainable way. Clothing, homewares and tech can be donated to charity stores or resold. Or why not have a garden sale? It’s a great way to pass on unwanted items and meet members of your community!
And of course, rethink. Do you really need it? If so, go for it!
Will you consider a more sustainable approach to Black Friday? Let us know by tagging us @HalcyonNaturals on Instagram.
If you’ve wanted to bring the power of aromachology into your home, or wish to treat a loved one this Christmas, we’re offering Limited Edition Specials to help you do so. It’s our way of saying thank you to you for being a conscious consumer, and to allow us to bring the beauty of sustainable fragrance to more homes.
Click here to see the bundles curated just for you, if it feels right!
P.S. In this month’s Halcyon Naturals subscription box, you’ll get our Healing Signature Candle to help you rebalance after this tough year, as well as a bonus bath bomb and eye mask to soak away any stress before the festive season kicks in. Use BFBOX during Black Friday Week for 10% off quarterly and annual plans!