Green is the new Black

SHOPPERS FOLLOW ALTERNATIVE 'GREEN FRIDAY' TRENDS

Instead of Black Friday, why not join the growing movement celebrating Green Friday, that prioritises people, wildlife and the planet? Research shows that up to 80% of Black Friday purchases end up in landfills, incineration, or low-quality recycling and in the UK alone, Black Friday generates an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of waste, with around half coming from packaging materials. Analysis by the UK consumer group Which? Has also found that most deals offered on Black Friday are cheaper or the same price at other times of the year.

Many consumers have launched a backlash and follow 'Buy Nothing Day', instead which launched in Vancouver in 1992. UK companies like Troo Healthcare, have decided to go down a different path. Since partnering with Greenspark in 2023, and becoming an 'Earth Positive Business' they've been planting trees for every product sold and every review shared - positive or negative. They've already planted 9.668 trees, rescued 242,069 bottles and offset 280.754 tonnes of CO2.

Some charities like the Cheetah Conservation Fund UK, have with clever wordplay, chosen to 'reduce threats to cheetahs' rather than 'reduce prices'. By purchasing from their online store, you'll be helping to take pressure off cheetahs in the wild:

- 80-90% off human-wildlife conflict (by supporting their Livestock Guarding Dog Programme)

- 58 acres off habitat loss (For every £20,000 raised, 58 acres of savannah can be restored through our Bushblok Programme)

- 50% off hunger for cheetahs in their care (Every £3,000 raised helps feed and care for one rescued cheetah for six months)

Shoppers are urged to feel encouraged that whichever items are purchased from their calendar, Christmas cards, mugs, tote bags, cushions or phone cases, they will gain something even better than a bargain: a future for wild cheetahs.

Do you have a celebration coming up? Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya are giving 20% off their botanical confetti consisting of hand-picked bougainvillea petals grown on their community farm in Tsavo "with no pesticides, no chemicals, just sunshine and two rainy seasons" . They're completely natural, biodegradable, and beautiful (available in 6 colours). Every purchase helps their vital work with orphaned elephants as well as supporting local jobs and funding wider wildlife conservation and habitats.

If you're purchasing now or with Christmas in mind, ethical brands brands to consider include UpCircle Beauty, who turn leftovers and repurposed ingredients into natural sustainable skincare and Allbirds, a certified B Corp company who are celebrating 'Black Sheep day' rather than Black Friday with reductions on their footwear- all made from natural materials like wool and eucalyptus, with every product's carbon footprint clearly shown.

The words of the quote: 'Walk gently where others will follow' seems suitably apt.

Pic credits: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Cheetah Conservation Fund and Allbirds