Green Friday – the alternative to Black Friday

This November, sees the rise of the movement to support Green Friday and promote responsible consumption that benefits the Circular Economy all year round.

So, if you don’t have any plans this Green Friday (today), why not consider organising a solo litter pick in your local neighbourhood, get outdoors and enjoy a walk, cycle or run. You could also donate to an environmental charity that you love.

Here are a few top tips on how you can join the Green Friday movement during this weekend and all year round really!
 
 

1. Mindful shopping
Today and over this coming weekend we’re probably all a little bit guilty of buying more than we need, and making less use of our purchases than we used to.
Before going on a shopping spree (local or online), take a moment to reflect whether you really need that item and why. Is it a replacement? Can the old one be fixed? Can you picture yourself using that item more than once? If the answers are yes, yes and yes, try shopping first for ethical and reusable alternatives. Good for your wallet and the planet.

2. Shop local, shop British
When you can, shopping in your local area and buying from local producers is the easiest way to reduce your overall carbon footprint. Also, well as eco-friendly products, always look out for Made in Britain stamp too.
Plus, you are in your rights to refuse unnecessary packaging too!

3. Reuse me
Ask yourself, is the product you want to buy only going be able to be used couple of times? Nobody wants to see their new purchase end up on the landfill heap. Unfortunately, the lure of price reductions and cheaper products might seem a good deal at the time but our motto is buying cheap by twice. Surely a product built to last #reuse; with a high-quality reputation is worth paying a litter more for?

4. Recycled & recyclable
If you’re going to buy something, make sure you opt for products made of recycled materials or its components are recyclable. By doing this you minimise your impact on the planet, prevent waste from ending up in landfill and support the Circular Economy!

5. Rethink
Lastly, our everyday habits have the tendency to create waste without us consciously knowing – we sometimes purchase and replace items without even thinking about their social, economic and environmental impact. It’s time to rethink our buying habits. For example, Single-use throw away coffee cups can quite easily be replaced with reusable keep cups. Plastic supermarket carrier bags can be replaced with reusable cotton or hessian versions which will withstand multiple usage. Products like these quickly end up paying for themselves and unlike their single-use counterparts (which are often mass produced cheaply and imported) – your handcrafted eco-friendly version won’t have to replace anytime soon.

Information source: The Helping Hand Company