Making Black Friday a little Greener

by Laura Nicol November 25, 2024

It’s almost Black Friday! Are you ready for big lines, throwing elbows for “big” deals, and loads of extra plastic packaging?

Ooh! Ooh! And are you so excited to put more coin in Jeff Bezos’ pocket?!?

Just kidding. Me neither!

But here’s the thing… You know we don’t shame here at The Greener Gift, and we have a BLAST getting special, fun things for friends and loved ones.

So instead, we're gonna make this wild, consumerized day more eco-friendly. Join me in turning black friday GREEN!

Gifts are fun and sweet. It’s totally okay to buy things for people, including ourselves. But how do we balance that fun against the stress and guilt that is tied to the major spike of environmental waste and crappy big business practices that Black Friday encompasses?

The answer is surprisingly easy: shop small, and shop local.

Shopping at local businesses near you makes such a difference: you’re supporting your community personally AND financially. That’s something that Amazon and big-box stores can never do. And the environmental impact is very low! You can carry your cute purchases home without extra packaging or shipping materials.

Plus, you can get to know the owners of local and small businesses and build a relationship with them. You can tell them in person which products are your faves, and what you’d like more of. They’ll be thrilled to make or restock something for a happy customer. (I assure you personally, this is true - both from the perspective of doing this myself for customers, and from the perspective of shops giving me incredible customer service doing the same!)

As for ethical business practices– not only are small businesses much more likely to treat employees fairly, they also have more ability to adapt to demand and pivot before they end up with exorbitant amounts of wasted inventory that no one wants… which happens all too frequently in large businesses. Your purchase is also making a direct impact on the lives of the people there.

As you already likely know, this small business owner cares with all her heart about protecting the environment, responsible materials sourcing that prioritizes people and planet, and of course selling products that help you live more sustainably, and with ease.

I’d love for you to shop small and local with me this season, but I'd also love to hear about all of the other small businesses you support! Please, drop me a message on Instagram or via email and share your favorite small businesses!

And in the meantime, I'd love to encourage you to consider some alternative methods to go green with your gift giving this holiday season that you might want to consider:

SHOPPING SECONDHAND - Thrift stores, antiques shops, and tag sales are lush with treasures that still have loads of usability left in them. This is one of my favorite "holiday hacks" to find awesome gifts for incredible prices.
GIFTING EXPERIENCES - In this day an age, it can be hard to come up with unique and meaningful gifts for folks when we all already own so much. Gifting an experience can be an incredible way to offer something that doesn't take up any more space, but DOES fill a heart and our memory banks.
GIFTING FOOD/BEVERAGES - With groceries so expensive, and homes filled with "stuff" gifting your loved ones treats that might be more luxurious than they would buy themselves is a fun way to not add to the burden of objects, and give them something special that they don't have to feel guilty treating themselves to.
SKIP THE "GIFTS" - Quality time together, as corny as it may be, is one of the best gifts we can offer one another. Especially in the fast paced, overwhelming world that we live in. Consider carving out special time that you will dedicate to being present with your loved one and gifting that to them for the holidays. I can tell you first hand, that dinner with my brother that he gifted me in my mid-twenties is still a core memory for me.

And with that, I'm going to wrap things up! In addition to my interest in the small businesses you support this season, I'd love to know if you partake in any alternative gifting methods to make you season a little greener. Remember, my inbox is always open!

Yours in greener living,

Lolly

Making Black Friday a little Greener

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