The Green Ostrich

It probably won’t surprise anyone here to find out that I’m not a fan of Black Friday. This predates any of my concerns around the environmental impacts of overconsumption. When I was in my teens and twenties, my family would often go to the movies the Friday after Thanksgiving. The movie theater was attached to the mall, and just driving into the mall parking lot would fill me with anxiety. It was so crowded. There were hundreds (felt like millions) of people standing in insanely long lines to get into the electronics store, the department store, the sporting goods store. All of it. Back then, you see, online shopping wasn’t a thing and Black Friday was limited to one day so seemingly everyone went to the mall on that day. No sale could justify that experience in my mind. 

Fast forward a couple of decades and my feelings around Black Friday are much more complex but no less negative. Black Friday now lasts for a month or more. Brands roll out Black Friday deals throughout the month of November and it feels like an arms race to the bottom pushing mass and mindless consumption of lower and lower quality stuff. 

So what can we do instead of shopping on Black Friday? 

My friends at Re-Action Collective have launched #CitizenFriday. For Citizen Friday, which is every Friday not just one, the deal isn’t a sale but it is  “better for the planet, your community, and your soul.” The deal has three components: (1) Don’t Shop, Share. (2) Choose Repair. (3) Get Some Fresh Air. 

But, what if you have to buy Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for family and friends? Isn’t Black Friday the time to do that – take advantage of the deals? 

What about first talking to family and friends about a different kind of holiday tradition? Would secondhand gifts or charitable donations be welcome? What about experience gifts – a spa day instead of a new sweater? What about consumables like a nice bottle of wine? 

If you’re thinking to yourself that your family and friends would not be interested in secondhand gifts, donations in lieu of gifts, or experience gifts, then you’re in luck! I have a whole other day for you – Small Business Saturday. Instead of focusing on the big box stores that are fueling our overconsumption habits through over production, find a small business that is not peddling mindless consumerism. Perhaps it’s a craft store that has charming home goods that someone you know actually needs or would love for life. Perhaps it’s even a small clothing brand that is focused on responsible production, quality, and durability. 

You can also encourage brands to take action. Some big players have already taken steps. Notably, outdoor retailer REI has been closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday since 2015 encouraging people to #optoutside instead of shopping. Let’s advocate for more of that!

I’m not a Grinch! Quite the opposite. I love that Thanksgiving weekend marks the unofficial start to the holiday season here in the US. I love all that comes along with that, including the tradition of gift giving. But turning Black Friday green doesn’t mean putting end to those traditions or spending more money. On the contrary, turning Black Friday green can have incredible positive benefits. You can focus on creating new traditions with your family and friends, which can give you a whole new perspective and lead to gifts with so much more meaning. You can save money by focusing on secondhand options, which are often just as good or better than their new counterparts. You can promote and support the types of businesses that you want to keep in business. You can focus on getting outside, which is great for your physical and mental health. Let’s flip Black Friday on its head. Whether you call it Green Friday or Citizen Friday or both, please join me in changing the narrative.