Black Friday. How to buy consciously and better take care of the environment?

It is said that “money does not bring happiness, only shopping”. There is certainly something to it, because ordering your dream product, waiting for the package and finally removing the protective foil is usually accompanied by a pleasant thrill. The problem is that while there is nothing wrong with buying products that we actually need, buying more items mainly because they are at a discounted price is undesirable.

And not only because of the senseless spending of savings, but also for the sake of the environment. And Black Friday is the day when we should also think about it. Before throwing another product into the basket, it is worth considering twice.

Black Friday, i.e. shopping does not always make sense

Usually, during Black Friday (and a few days earlier), we inform about further promotions in online stores with electronics or discounts at discounters. This time it will be no different. Another Black Friday is fast approaching. This year falls on November 26, but in many stores promotions start earlier. Therefore, we can already start looking for the best opportunities.

However, before we get into the whirlwind of shopping, it is worth realizing that every item purchased on Black Friday will have an impact on our planet. Each item leaves a carbon footprint. And not only the one necessary to produce a given item (and dispose of it after throwing it away). The purchased item still has to be packed (often a lot of plastic is used for this) and shipped, and the transport of course also leaves its carbon footprint.

In 2020, the British comparison site Money.co.uk calculated the ecological cost of last year’s Black Friday. The amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere on this occasion (and only in Great Britain) was to reach 429 thousand. tonnes, which is as much as 435 flights between London and New York –

Black Friday – how to shop wisely?

However, we are not saying that the upcoming shopping celebration is a bad thing. Contrary. On this day, we should be able to buy the products we need at a discounted price, but we are still waiting for a price bargain. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a shopping list before Black Friday and stick to it.

Perhaps next Friday the prices of the necessary things will be much lower, and thus savings will be possible. By the way, we will not spend money on products that we have not thought about before, but put them in the basket, because “they may come in handy someday”.

Nor can you be influenced by impulses. Let’s think twice if we really need another product while the previous one is still working. Usually, the sudden desire to take advantage of the next promotion passes quickly and after a while we wonder if the purchase actually makes sense. It is true that in the case of online purchases, we have the option of returning the goods within two weeks or after a month, but returning some of the purchased goods is another cost not only for us, but also for the environment.

Recognize a fake promotion

It is also worth remembering that not every Black Friday promotion is a real bargain. Unfortunately, some stores like to inflate the prices of certain products some time earlier in order to lower them on Black Friday and boast discounts of up to 30, 40 or 50 percent.

It is therefore worth observing the prices of the necessary electronic devices or gadgets and compare them with those that we will see on Black Friday. Nor can you buy on the spur of the moment. Even if we do not know the average price of a given product from the last weeks, it will be a good method to check prices in various stores and on auction portals. Often the discounted product can be bought even cheaper in competitive online stores.

We also encourage you to go shopping online, not stationary, this Black Friday. Despite the lack of major restrictions in the operation of stores, the pandemic still has not let go, and many people will probably want to do shopping on Black Friday. Staying at home and online fishing will certainly be safer.