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| Green Friday: The eco-friendly alternative to Black Friday | Green Friday: The eco-friendly alternative to Black Friday |
| (3 months later) | |
| Martin Dorey went wild swimming last year to mark Green Friday | Martin Dorey went wild swimming last year to mark Green Friday |
| Black Friday deals are hard to miss right now - your inbox is doubtless full of "unbeatable" offers and billboards everywhere are proclaiming what great deals can be had. | Black Friday deals are hard to miss right now - your inbox is doubtless full of "unbeatable" offers and billboards everywhere are proclaiming what great deals can be had. |
| For many, it is a chance to grab a bargain or make a start on the Christmas shopping. And for businesses, it is a chance to boost sales amid a difficult trading period. | For many, it is a chance to grab a bargain or make a start on the Christmas shopping. And for businesses, it is a chance to boost sales amid a difficult trading period. |
| But some people are exploring a greener alternative to the shopping holiday - with "Green Friday" starting to grab people's attention. | But some people are exploring a greener alternative to the shopping holiday - with "Green Friday" starting to grab people's attention. |
| People mark the day in a variety of ways - from sustainable shopping choices, to ditching the high street altogether, or getting out into nature - but an environmental focus remains consistent. | People mark the day in a variety of ways - from sustainable shopping choices, to ditching the high street altogether, or getting out into nature - but an environmental focus remains consistent. |
| It is hard to pinpoint exactly when Green Friday started, but for the past few years environmental activists have been promoting it - and it has been picked up by businesses and across social media. | It is hard to pinpoint exactly when Green Friday started, but for the past few years environmental activists have been promoting it - and it has been picked up by businesses and across social media. |
| One of the people giving the shops a wide berth is Martin Dorey who described consumerism as "one of the greatest drivers of climate collapse". | One of the people giving the shops a wide berth is Martin Dorey who described consumerism as "one of the greatest drivers of climate collapse". |
| The climate activist marked Green Friday with a wild swim last year. "Buying nothing but good vibes. Flogging only sun and winter sunshine," he said at the time. | The climate activist marked Green Friday with a wild swim last year. "Buying nothing but good vibes. Flogging only sun and winter sunshine," he said at the time. |
| Mr Dorey, from Cornwall, told BBC News he hopes the movement makes people "think twice about buying needless stuff" and urged people to not buy anything. | Mr Dorey, from Cornwall, told BBC News he hopes the movement makes people "think twice about buying needless stuff" and urged people to not buy anything. |
| "I certainly don't feel better about my life if I buy new stuff on Black Friday, so I don't bother." | "I certainly don't feel better about my life if I buy new stuff on Black Friday, so I don't bother." |
| It's only November and I'm getting more and more anxious about the pressure put on us to consume at Christmas.This Black Friday I shall go for a #wildswimfriday to show that our mental health and wellbeing is more important than money and possessions.Join me. pic.twitter.com/7mDzILbe5y | It's only November and I'm getting more and more anxious about the pressure put on us to consume at Christmas.This Black Friday I shall go for a #wildswimfriday to show that our mental health and wellbeing is more important than money and possessions.Join me. pic.twitter.com/7mDzILbe5y |
| He said it was "great" if companies chose to have a sale to avoid sending products to landfill and praised tree planting ideas. | He said it was "great" if companies chose to have a sale to avoid sending products to landfill and praised tree planting ideas. |
| "But don't use it [Green Friday] just to sell more stuff and boost sales - that's greenwashing," he said. | "But don't use it [Green Friday] just to sell more stuff and boost sales - that's greenwashing," he said. |
| Laura Shewbridge said she was marking Green Friday for the first time this year | Laura Shewbridge said she was marking Green Friday for the first time this year |
| Laura Shewbridge and Paul Walker are both marking their first Green Friday this year. | Laura Shewbridge and Paul Walker are both marking their first Green Friday this year. |
| Ms Shewbridge said it was an "important" idea and plans to cycle or walk instead of driving and start an upcycling furniture project on Friday. | Ms Shewbridge said it was an "important" idea and plans to cycle or walk instead of driving and start an upcycling furniture project on Friday. |
| The marketing manager from Essex said she had recently been making a conscious effort to reuse, eat more plant-based food and recycle clothes. | The marketing manager from Essex said she had recently been making a conscious effort to reuse, eat more plant-based food and recycle clothes. |
| "The growing concern around climate change and cost-of-living worries will surely make Green Friday more prominent this year", she added. | "The growing concern around climate change and cost-of-living worries will surely make Green Friday more prominent this year", she added. |
| Paramedic Mr Walker said Black Friday was "consumerism at its worst" and described the greener alternative as a "great antidote to the madness of spending". | Paramedic Mr Walker said Black Friday was "consumerism at its worst" and described the greener alternative as a "great antidote to the madness of spending". |
| In light of a growing interest in climate change, he said he hoped the event would be more prominent this year. | In light of a growing interest in climate change, he said he hoped the event would be more prominent this year. |
| Mr Walker from Norfolk said from Green Friday onwards he intended to make a "concerted effort" to visit the local market where they use recyclable bags and no plastic products. | Mr Walker from Norfolk said from Green Friday onwards he intended to make a "concerted effort" to visit the local market where they use recyclable bags and no plastic products. |
| Paul Walker has decided to take part in Green Friday this year and avoid the consumerism of Black Friday | Paul Walker has decided to take part in Green Friday this year and avoid the consumerism of Black Friday |
| These environmental messages have been shared by charities including Green Alliance which said: "The key is to buy less and buy better." | These environmental messages have been shared by charities including Green Alliance which said: "The key is to buy less and buy better." |
| Libby Peake, head of resource policy said it was "encouraging" to see more people embracing Green Friday "and aiming to shop sustainably or even not at all". | Libby Peake, head of resource policy said it was "encouraging" to see more people embracing Green Friday "and aiming to shop sustainably or even not at all". |
| The "throwaway culture" of Black Friday "is bad for the environment" and people should instead consider recycled products, said the charity and think tank. | The "throwaway culture" of Black Friday "is bad for the environment" and people should instead consider recycled products, said the charity and think tank. |
| Peter Krideras, who started marking Green Friday last year, co-founded a space where shoppers can consider sustainable options. He said he had been "blown away by the response this year". | Peter Krideras, who started marking Green Friday last year, co-founded a space where shoppers can consider sustainable options. He said he had been "blown away by the response this year". |
| Mr Krideras, from Australia said he was eager to offer an alternative to the "frenzied consumerism" of Black Friday. | Mr Krideras, from Australia said he was eager to offer an alternative to the "frenzied consumerism" of Black Friday. |
| He said the Green Friday movement had recently grown around the world and explained the "hot topics" of climate change and sustainability encouraged consumers to look for more ethical options. | He said the Green Friday movement had recently grown around the world and explained the "hot topics" of climate change and sustainability encouraged consumers to look for more ethical options. |
| Shoppers queued for Black Friday deals during the coronavirus pandemic including in Cardiff in 2020 | Shoppers queued for Black Friday deals during the coronavirus pandemic including in Cardiff in 2020 |
| But it's not just the consumers taking part. Clothes brand Passenger is one of the retailers to take part. | But it's not just the consumers taking part. Clothes brand Passenger is one of the retailers to take part. |
| Passenger offers customers the opportunity to plant five trees and protect the rainforest with every order over the whole Black Friday period. | Passenger offers customers the opportunity to plant five trees and protect the rainforest with every order over the whole Black Friday period. |
| Over the past six years, through its Green Friday scheme, more than 385,193 native trees have been planted and more than 2,200 acres of rainforest protected. | Over the past six years, through its Green Friday scheme, more than 385,193 native trees have been planted and more than 2,200 acres of rainforest protected. |
| The retailer said it had avoided Black Friday for as long as possible but it "had a real impact on all of our seasonal shopping habits." | The retailer said it had avoided Black Friday for as long as possible but it "had a real impact on all of our seasonal shopping habits." |
| Passenger said the purpose of Green Friday was to "inspire escapism" and encourage people to "unplug and reconnect with nature all year round, no matter what". | Passenger said the purpose of Green Friday was to "inspire escapism" and encourage people to "unplug and reconnect with nature all year round, no matter what". |
| However, with many battling cost-of-living concerns the British Retail Consortium said consumers were "keenly looking" for Black Friday deals in the run up to Christmas. | However, with many battling cost-of-living concerns the British Retail Consortium said consumers were "keenly looking" for Black Friday deals in the run up to Christmas. |
| "It's great that Green Friday has taken off," said Passenger, but the retailer recognised the downside of greenwashing and urged consumers to check green claims when shopping. | "It's great that Green Friday has taken off," said Passenger, but the retailer recognised the downside of greenwashing and urged consumers to check green claims when shopping. |
| Other companies taking part in Green Friday include beauty brand Rituals, vintage label Rixo and furniture store Sofology. | Other companies taking part in Green Friday include beauty brand Rituals, vintage label Rixo and furniture store Sofology. |
| Related Topics | |
| Ikea | |
| Climate change | |
| Shopping | |
| Sustainability | |
| Environment | |
| Black Friday |