Black Friday: How to be a more mindful consumer

Black Friday: How to be a more mindful consumer

by Alberte Egholm
Black Friday

Black Friday is here again, and many stores now attract customers by offering limited money-saving specials and online deals on various goods.

Why we say No to Black Friday

Say no to black friday

Black Friday originally started in the mid-1960s as a post-Thanksgiving sale in the US but has since gained popularity around most of the world. 

Today, the day is no longer limited to one day of excessive discounts and sales. Instead, many stores and businesses extend the sales to a longer period. This means that consumers get tempted by the deals for a longer time, and increased consumption, therefore, also happens for a longer time. 

At EcoHotels.com, we say no to Black Friday. We don’t want to impose values on anybody, but we want to provide some educational points. This blog post briefly explains why we say No to Black Friday.

Drawbacks of Black Friday 

Drawbacks of Black Friday - Black Friday

There are some severe drawbacks connected to the concept of Black Friday that stand in contrast to protecting and taking better care of our planet and prioritizing responsible development. The increased production and consumption as a result of Black Friday is problematic due to several reasons:

  • The energy and carbon footprint that are connected to the increased production of products. The higher the production, the higher the carbon footprint. Bear in mind that the most sought-after products during Black Friday are technological devices and clothing. Both industries are some of the most dominant polluting industries with high carbon footprints connected. 
  • The carbon footprint from the increased shipping and returning of products. The more shipping, the more excessive packaging and shipping waste. Products’ packaging largely contributes to CO2 emissions from producing plastics and other waste types, polluting ecosystems and adding enormous amounts of waste to landfills. 
  • The high number of returns that happens with the increased consumption and the overproduction of products. Data shows that online shopping increases the number of returns. As much of the shopping during Black Friday takes place online, the number of returns increases. This means even more packaging and shipping waste. 
  • The promotion of mindless consumption. In a time when it is more important than ever to decrease our footprint on the planet and reduce our use of resources and consumption habits, it is far from ideal when Black Friday supports increased consumption by promoting sales, pushing and tempting consumers to buy more goods, and normalizing this. 

How to be a more mindful consumer

gifts - Black Friday

If you want to try to withstand the many offered deals and be a mindful consumer, here are some steps and considerations you can try to reflect upon before making the next purchase. 

  • You can start before Black Friday by analyzing what you already have so that you don’t fall into impulse buying. Stick to only making purchases that do not fall into the categories of products you already have. Also, realize that much of what is advertised is trend-based, especially when it comes to clothing. Prioritize products that last many seasons and years. 
  • Ask yourself: Do you really need it? The reality is that you most often don’t. So make a deal with yourself that you must come up with a great argument of why you need this product before purchasing anything. 
  • If you conclude that you need a product, consider whether any small and local businesses have a similar product and support them instead. 
  • If you buy online: Make sure you are at home when the order arrives or choose a pick-up point. This way, the carrier doesn’t have to make unnecessary trips. 
  • Find out if the company you buy from is acting eco-conscious and, for example, offsetting its carbon footprint and prioritize companies that are.

Did you like this blog post? Read more content and travel tips here.

We are not pointing fingers at anyone this Black Friday – but we encourage everybody to reflect upon their shopping habits and be more mindful consumers. Every choice and decision makes a difference! 

You may also like

Skip to content