Seven Tips For a More Sustainable Black Friday
It's that time of year when shops roll out the red sale signs, businesses get their marketing emails ready, and consumers begin preparing themselves for those 'unmissable' deals. That's right, Black Friday is upon us.
Black Friday, or the Friday following Thanksgiving in the USA, is a day (or longer) of deals of epic proportions. A recent import to Aotearoa, over the last decade Black Friday has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year—with $175.6 million spent in 2024.
Heaving with in-store/online sales and ads from all directions, it's hard not to feel influenced to browse the deals. In fact, it'd be near impossible to avoid temptation given the millions of marketing dollars that are pumped into making us feel this way.
Also fast approaching, Cyber Monday (a recent addition to the Black Friday frenzy), Christmas, and Boxing Day add to the consumer chaos. To help, we've compiled our top tips for staying conscious, mindful and sustainable around this time of year.
Recognise the feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out)
We all know that terrible feeling that we might be missing out on an amazing deal. When we see an ad that reads '70% off' or 'biggest sale EVER' and think “maybe I should just take a look...”
It's a valid feeling, and is one that has been carefully constructed by huge teams of marketing, design and advertising professionals who know exactly what they're doing. When you feel it, remind yourself of this.
Do everything in your power to not react
It's easier said than done, but the more that we don't respond to that feeling, the more that companies will realise that they can't continue doing what they're doing.
We recommend cutting down screen time around/on the day of Black Friday, avoiding clicking on the pop-up ads, and trying not to browse online shops. Instead, why not have a day outside with friends and whānau, catch up on chores or get stuck into a good TV show?
Think about what you really need
Have you ever been in a position where you're considering buying something just because it's a good deal?
We've been there too. It's amazing how quickly we can be convinced that what we already have is getting too old or needs an upgrade. And all of a sudden, we're replacing something that still works perfectly fine!
Think —”if this wasn't on sale, would I still buy it?”
Be alert for greenwashing
We're all catching on to the environmental impact of overconsuming, and businesses know this.
Companies will be pulling out all the stops to appear 'green' amongst their sales, offering to plant trees or donate part of their profits. Be wary though, as this is often a ploy to distract from the destructiveness of their business.
Keep an eye out for companies using vague terms like “eco-friendly” or “sustainable” to sell you products; how do they measure their impact? Is a single-use item more sustainable just because it’s made from recycled plastic?
Where is your money going?
Local and small businesses simply can't afford to slash their prices and market their sales like big international businesses can.
While massive retailers will be stacking in profits in the millions, think about the little guys next door. While they might not be able to offer 50%, 60% or 70% off, all of their profits go back into supporting our neighbours, friends and local economy (instead of billionaire CEOs overseas!)
Watch out for sneaky “sales”
Some big retailers will employ sneaky or even illegal sales tactics to create more hype during Black Friday. Before clicking buy on that “Clearance Doorbuster Must Buy Now Sale!”, have a look at how the item is priced at competitors, and how it was priced before the “sale,” on PriceMe or PriceSpy.
You might find that the original price has been artificially inflated to make the deal look bigger, or an item isn’t really on clearance, or simply that you can find a better deal elsewhere.
Better than new?
Rethinking is a great way to minimise waste, as the first step of the waste hierarchy, but sometimes you really do need something.
Instead of taking part in sales season, try to reuse and repair first. Initiatives like RepairED can help you fix your existing items if you don’t have the skills or materials to do it yourself.
Second-hand shops. op shops, TradeMe, and resource recovery centres like Te Aro Zero Waste are goldmines for second-hand and refurbished goods that are often just as good or better than new, for cheaper.