Turning Black Friday GREEN

With Black Friday upon us, we wanted to take the opportunity to consider the impacts of consumerism and how we can all help turn Black Friday green.

Most people have heard of Black Friday, it’s hard to miss these days. It marks the last Friday in November (the day after thanksgiving in the US), when companies begin a heavily promoted sale period to shift stock at the start of the Christmas shopping season and, historically, to financially go from the “red” (in debit) into the “black” (in credit), hence the name Black Friday.

So, what about Green Friday?

The term refers to a general anti-Black Friday sentiment that has been adopted by various businesses and organisations over the years and is now a growing movement promoting “green” action on Black Friday. Here at Eden, we support the concept of Green Friday and hope to inspire you to do so as well through thinking about what you buy and taking positive action for the planet.

In the past, Black Friday sales were mostly made in shops, whereas these days most purchases are made online. This is having a growing impact on nature: on top of the environmental impact of the production of the items (often mass-produced electronics and fast fashion), the carbon emissions from their shipping and delivery are now higher than ever.

So how do we balance retail here at the Eden Project, with looking after the planet?

We have two shops onsite in Cornwall, and an online shop. As an educational charity and social enterprise, the money we make from these is important to us. It goes back into developing our transformational projects and learning programmes in the UK and beyond, that aim to inspire and demonstrate positive action for the planet. We select the products in our shops very carefully from companies that share our ethos, adhere to sustainability and ethical practice standards, support local livelihoods, the protection of the natural world, and our own journey to becoming climate and nature positive. Find out more about how we select our sustainable products. We make sure that the products we sell are produced, packaged and transported in ways that consider people and the environment; they are recycled, recyclable, built to last and repair or made from sustainable materials and crops. As high-quality products, often made by small, local businesses, they deserve a fair price, and we believe they deserve this price year-round.

Instead of being tempted by a bargain that may be too good to be true, we hope to inspire you to consider your role and impact as global citizens and consumers and think carefully about your purchases. Here’s a handy guide to help you make ethical and sustainable choices all year-round – using your wallet as a weapon for change. First off, consider if it’s something you really need. Can you repair, recycle, swap or buy second hand instead? This lessens demand and reduces landfill. If you’re buying new then choose items made from sustainable, natural resources by checking for certification logos e.g. Rainforest Alliance, FairWild, Fairtrade, FSC, Soil Association. Choose fresh, local, seasonal, and organic food products and consider buying in bulk to save packaging and cost. Avoid products that contain chemicals that are harmful to nature or your health and look for natural alternatives for garden, household and personal care products.

We can all help to turn Black Friday green by buying wisely and buying less. But why stop there? We have a whole host of tips on how to make a positive impact on the planet through everyday activities, as an individual or by joining with others. From thinking about and adjusting your energy use, food and clothing, to reconnecting with nature and your community, small actions can make a big difference. Your own personal Green Friday could even be as simple as enjoying time outdoors or doing something small to help protect local wildlife.

Here at the Eden Project, we’re working on projects near and far that aim to do just this; helping people to reconnect with nature, protect wildlife and wild places, repair damaged spaces and enable them to regenerate and thrive. One of our flagship nature recovery projects is run by our National Wildflower Centre (NWC), which has created seven hectares of wildflower habitats across our estate in Cornwall and along our access roads, and is creating wildflower habitats in Liverpool, Dundee and Morecambe. The Eden Project Wildflower Bank is working alongside the NWC, harvesting wildflower seed, and working with landowners, organisations and businesses to create high-quality, wildflower-rich landscapes across the UK. This is all in a bid to bring back biodiversity, make our landscape greener, our communities more resilient and our planet healthier. In the process, the community activities and the wildflowers bring joy to many people.

So, let’s go green this Black Friday. We know that a few passionate people can create tipping points for transformation, so spread the word and join us in promoting conscientious consumerism and taking positive action for the planet.