In contrast to the ubiquitous Black Friday today (as many other people and businesses do, too) we want to support a Green Friday, characterized by less wasteful consumerism and sustainable choices.
The Black Friday frenzy has begun
So, it has officially started: Today marks the start of the crazy-compulsive-shopping season with the iconic Black Friday pushing consumerism to incredible levels every year and Christmas shopping just around the corner. With all this in mind, it might become increasingly difficult to follow the first 4 of the “ 5Rs ” (refuse reduce reuse recycle) and not to fall into the consumerist trap of buying-without thinking in the upcoming few weeks.
Do you really need it?
Today, more than any other day of the year, you’ll probably be bombarded with “unmissable offers” and “crazy-good deals” that might at first sight appear to be a “waste” not to take on (pun intended). The reality is, however, that 9 times out of 10 these deals ARE a waste. A waste of money, a waste of material, a waste of your time. More often than not you will be tempted to buy something you wouldn’t really need or want in the first place just because “it is so much cheaper, how could you not take advantage of it”?
Our suggestion is simple: don’t rush, take a moment to consciously think of what you are about to do and ask yourself honestly how much do you really need or really want that thing, and if there wouldn’t be any other more sustainable way to get it. If the answer is “I really, really, really” cannot miss out on it, then off you go, we hope it turns out to be a great deal and a long-lasting, long-loved product for you; but if you have even just a little bit of hesitation than you should probably leave it. We are not telling you absolutely stop shopping and hunting for great deals for things you love, we just want to point out that there are ways to buy consciously, reflected and with purpose.
Celebrate Green Friday
In contrast to the ubiquitous Black Friday today (as many other people and businesses do, too) we want to support a Green Friday, characterized by less wasteful consumerism and sustainable choices.
Two things that might help
We appreciate the difficulty, we really do, and we don’t want to leave you alone in this hard time of “extreme temptation”, for this reason we want to give you two pieces of good news:
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We have a post here on our website that will give you some tips on how to achieve a greener wardrobe, and how to make sustainable choices when you want to buy them.
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If you could hold off till this coming Sunday (December 1, 2019) we have a great event coming up at The George, in the very centre of Dublin city. From 12 pm to 6 pm the space will host our Zero Waste Christmas Festival including a sustainable market (a lot of great local zero waste and hand-made products), workshops on zero waste and sustainability and two fantastic swap-shop to satisfy your shopping impulses completely guilt-free! Don’t miss it if you’re in town this weekend!
Through the smallest changes we can face the biggest challenges; let’s not underestimate the power of conscious consumerism as a response to the climate crisis.
Thank you all for your efforts! Together we can bring about the change we want to see in the world.