Going Green on Black Friday

With Halloween behind us, ‘tis the season for holiday shopping! Black Friday sales events make buying convenient, exciting, and slightly addictive. However, behind the discounts and undeniable thrill of treating yourself lies a sobering truth. The proof is in the price tags: Black Friday is unethical. This day of celebrated greed dedicated to consumerism ultimately promotes and rewards the mentality of impulse buying and materialism.

By encouraging needlessly replacing items, Black Friday invites a wasteful culture that harms the environment. Cheaply made items discounted to be even cheaper leaves their value unrecognized, thus training consumers to see items as disposable. Additionally, on Black Friday, mass amounts of excess plastic and packaging go to landfills. Greene Street is a small chain of second-hand consignment stores in the Greater Philadelphia area. According to Jennifer Allard, their customer service manager, Greene Street strives to provide “a new outlet for second-hand items, as buying and selling second-hand items helps to keep those items out of landfills.” This year, COVID-19 caused nearly unrecoverable damage to many businesses, small and large alike. Along with the regular struggles of operating a successful small business, “COVID-19 also certainly challenged us in so many ways,” Allard states. Luckily for Greene Street, their strong foundation of stores has kept them afloat.

Faced with the pandemic, the revenue made from Black Friday is crucial for many companies. However, annual statistics have shown that Black Friday disproportionally benefits large corporations such as Apple, Walmart, and due to Cyber Monday, Amazon. Small businesses, though needing it most, are typically not the go-to Black Friday destination. Buying from small, sustainable, and local businesses is the most ethical and socially responsible way to treat yourself while benefiting individuals and the climate. Allard adds that “by shopping small, our customers are supporting their local communities.”

Practicing ethical buying habits can mean something different to everyone. Greene Street encourages every form of these habits, stating that, “It can start with something as simple as bringing your own bag to shop with, to shopping resale and/or second-hand, to taking that extra step in researching which brands have a mission that aligns with your own beliefs. Second-hand can be a great choice for all different kinds of ethically-conscious shoppers!” Shopping sustainably does not have to be expensive or out of the way. This holiday season, consider buying a book from your local bookstore or a sweater from your nearest consignment shop or boutique!