By Adele Paiardini, Sustainability Reporter
Black Friday weekend is approaching, and shop windows across London are displaying signs advertising the best deals. Even online websites offer great discounts that may push many consumers to buy unnecessary items.
Campaigners have said that the increased spending can damage the environment, and have urged consumers to consider the effects their purchases can have.
According to the Dirty Delivery Report after analysing the annual sustainability statement released by 12 major delivery companies in the UK, this year’s online shopping on Black Friday is predicted to release 429,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, the same weight as 61,000 elephants. You might be finding very good deals, but the truth is that we don’t really need most of the items on sale. Black Friday may benefit pockets, but the environment doesn’t benefit from that.
Here some tips on how you could be more sustainable this Black Friday:
- Shop local — it is the best way to sustain small businesses, without the level of carbon emissions big chains can have.
- Buy your clothes from second-hand shops
- Only buy things that you really need now
- Chose sustainable brands, you can find offer great deals online
- Use the event to donate to those in need
- Or just don’t buy anything, use this day as a protest against carbon emissions caused by this event and avoid any kind of purchase