The True Cost Of Black Friday And What You Can Do To Shop Sustainably
Harjit Sohotey-Khan is the founder of ethical fashion brand Jewelled Buddha.
It’s that time of the year again! Black Friday is looming and big retailers have already started slashing prices in the hope consumers will be tempted to shop early. Come Black Friday Weekend, we’ll be witnessing hoards of shoppers queuing up, fighting to be the first to get a good deal. But behind the excitement of buying shiny new things at half price deals, what exactly is the true cost of Black Friday shopping?
In this blog I’ll be exploring how important it is to remember the impact our purchases have on the environment, communities, and workers involved in the production process. Additionally, we'll highlight the importance of supporting local and sustainable businesses, so you can shop confidently and make a positive impact on Black Friday.
Photo by Matthias Heyde on Unsplash
How Black Friday impacts the environment
When it comes to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the deals and discounts. After all it’s the biggest shopping event of the season and as we’re in a cost of living crisis, who doesn’t love a discount right? According to Mintel, a global market research agency, total sales during Black Friday 2022 reached an estimated £12.3 billion in the UK. But as conscious consumers, it’s important for us to consider the impact of our purchases. Two of the biggest ways Black Friday has an impact on the environment is through emissions and waste. With a huge increase in shipping and deliveries, there’s inevitably a higher carbon footprint. Just think of the millions of packages being transported and delivered across the world in lorries, planes and ships. Deliveries not only increase exponentially during the holiday shopping season, but the emissions created increase too. This carbon footprint is made worse by online shopping. With many items being returned after the sales, shipping things back to retailers creates an unnecessary carbon footprint which exacerbates the problem.
Photo by Rio Lecatompessy on Unsplash
How Black Friday impacts people
More and more people are aware of the injustice and inequality in the fast fashion industry. Cheap, clothing influenced by celebrity cultures and fashion catwalks, is made by outsourcing to developing countries by profit hungry brands. Garment workers are exploited, paid pittance for long hours and kept in a cycle of poverty and dependence. Our expectations have changed and we now think it’s normal to pay £5 for a T-shirt. As a result, our over-consumption during Black Friday puts excessive pressure on factory owners and workers to meet deadlines and deliver garments quickly. This inequality doesn’t just stop at fast fashion, it also includes workers in tech production lines, white goods production and of course most things bought from heavy weights such as Amazon. In fact more than 1,000 workers at the Amazon warehouse in England were on strike a couple of weeks ago demanding more pay. Black Friday affects all people throughout the supply chain. Unfortunately our over consumption doesn’t put money back into the pockets of those who need it the most. Instead it feeds the profit margins of large brands who turn a blind eye to the injustices of workers.
Shibori silk scarf gift boxes are perfect for the gifting season
How To Shop Ethically on Black Friday Weekend?
Shop slow, create impact. Whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts or buying for yourself, choosing to shop fashion that’s slowly made is a good place to start. Slow fashion is the antithesis to fast fashion and takes into the account the processes and techniques used to create clothing. It focusses on quality clothing and investment pieces that last longer and create impact by valuing people and the planet.
More timeless than trendy, slow fashion brands carry less styles and don’t over produce. Any stock left is carried over to the next season. As a slow fashion brand, our clothing and accessories embrace the slow beauty of artisanal techniques with indulgent quality fabrics that are crafted using either handloomed or upcycled materials. If you’re looking for a special Christmas gift for mum, our lightweight Shibori Silk Scarves make an extra special gift. Crafted by master artisans skilled in the ancient art of Shibori Itajime, the Shibori Tie-Dye Lightweight Silk Scarf - Blush is a beautiful silk statement scarf featuring a stunning tie-dye design in shades of blush pink, blues, and soft greys. Floaty and lightweight, it’s ideal for all those special occasions around the festive season, when you want to elevate your outfits effortlessly and create a statement. Comes beautifully packaged in an eco-friendly scarf gift box, ready to be gifted. Plus every purchase ensures artisans earn an income that’s sustainable and enables them to build a future that’s equitable.
Shop sustainable and ethical. One way to make informed choices on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is by doing your research beforehand. Take the time to educate yourself about different brands and their ethical practices. Looking for certifications such as Fair Trade or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) means the brands have a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. However, do remember that not all brands have these and if they don’t, it doesn’t mean they are not strictly ethical or sustainable. Obtaining certifications is a long, difficult process and many brands, especially small businesses, may focus on other values of sustainability. A general guideline to shopping sustainably is to look for brands who have ethical production practices, use eco-friendly or upcycled materials and don’t greenwash their marketing.
One such brand that combines Fair Trade certifications with ethical production is Jenerous. They’ve just launched a new range of everyday clothing pieces that i love. So if you’re looking for a gift or need some wardrobe staples, check out their new ethical arrivals.
My Vegan Artisan Box makes a great Christmas gift for family and friends
Shop small business, shop local. Local communities offer so much when it comes to shopping. From craft markets, local high street shops, online or small independents working from their kitchen. Small businesses are creative, care about their customers and offer so much more than the big brands whose sole targets are profit and market domination. Shopping local and small, contributes to local economies, keep high streets alive and give back back to communities. Small Business Saturday is a great resource for finding local businesses in your area. A grass-roots non-commercial campaign, that encourages consumers to support small businesses, I’m a proud to have been voted as a small business 100 nominee and share the limelight with some amazing businesses. One such business is My Vegan Artisan Box by the lovely Marta. Her lifestyle vegan subscription boxes contain artisan food, drinks, snacks, natural beauty and fashion. I think they make a great Christmas present for friends and family.
Upcycled Jewellery by Readorn
Buy Less, choose well
Investing in quality over quantity, not only reduces waste but also saves you money in the long run. By investing in quality sustainable products, you can enjoy them for years to come while minimising your environmental footprint. If you’re using the Black Friday sales as a way to refresh your winter wardrobe, upcycling what you have, or simply asking yourself if you need another new dress, means you can be mindful about your purchases. It not about denying yourself of clothes, it’s about building a sustainable wardrobe that has quality pieces that last and are worn regularly year after year. Jewellery is another thing that can end up sitting around for years without being worn. If you’ve got jewellery that hasn’t been worn for a while or broken you can always upcycled it. Louise from Readorn is an ethical and sustainably driven jewellery brand that sells jewellery donated or salvaged from jewellery boxes like yours. I think it’s a great way of rescuing and reinventing jewellery that’s not functional into forever pieces that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Shop thoughtfully online
Shopping mindfully around Black Friday helps the environment
Where possible always try to shop in store. It reduces transport emissions and I think it’s always a nicer experience all round. It also reduces the probability of returning items as you’ve been able to physically see and touch what you’re buying. However, if it’s not possible to shop in store, do take your time shopping online. Ordering several of the same items with the intention of sending most of them back, seems to be the norm these days. But it negatively impacts the environment and people in so many ways.
I hope you’ve found these tips on shopping sustainably on Black November useful. If you think i’ve missed anything out, let me know below in the comments.
How do you shop during the Black Friday Sales?