WHAT IS BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER MONDAY?
- The term “Black Friday” had been used in the mid 1800s to indicate a decline in gold prices that caused a market crash
- The term became associated with this time of year, right around American Thanksgiving, in the 1950s when Philadelphia police used the term to describe a large amount of foot traffic from suburban shoppers coming into the city to shop, when stores would hold sales before the Army/Navy football game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving
- By 1980, the term “Black Friday” came to signify a positive boost in retail sales and the start of the winter holiday shopping season, but also became the biggest corporate holiday promoting overconsumption, particularly in the Global North
- “Cyber Monday”, the Monday following American Thanksgiving, has emerged as the biggest day for online sales of the year
- Nowadays, “Black Friday / Cyber Monday” sales often extend across the entire weekend or even entire week surrounding American Thanksgiving
- Companies will often use “scarcity marketing” on Black Friday / Cyber Monday – meaning they will advertise their products as if they are never going to have this big of a sale again (even though Black Friday happens every year, and Boxing Day is right around the corner)
‘GIVING TUESDAY’
- Whether it’s mutual aid, a charitable donation, or gifting to a loved one, ’Giving Tuesday’ means that you are spreading your wealth instead of spending money on something for yourself that you don’t need
- Some organizations offer matched donations for Giving Tuesday up until November 29 (ie. you donate $5, they match it with another $5), which can amplify your impact. Some organizations doing this are @davidsuzukifdn @sierraclubbc @mustardseedvic
- Keep in mind that this time of year some charities get more donations than others – think about giving back to something you haven’t given to before, or think about signing up as a donor or spreading your wealth throughout the year and not just during the “boom” around the holidays
‘BUY NOTHING DAY’
- Buy nothing day is as simple as it sounds: buy nothing and avoid giving into the advertised deals altogether!
- this concept started as an international day of protest against consumer culture and the harms of overconsumption
- On buy nothing day, try practicing mindfulness and gratitude for what you have
BUY WHAT YOU NEED
- Realistically, we all “need” some things. For example, maybe you are a young student, and you need a new laptop for class. Maybe you need stationary for your home office. Maybe a new pair of workout shoes have been sitting in your online shopping cart for months. It can be advantageous to use Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to pick up necessities at a more affordable price
- It’s important to not pass judgement onto people who buy into it – especially people who may be struggling financially.
- The point is to try to be a conscious consumer and to try to reduce your unnecessary purchases
HOW TO SPOT GREENWASHING
- Many brands will use greenwashing language in their advertising, buzzwords and phrases such as “we care about sustainability” and ”our products are eco friendly”. What you need to look for is the information to back up these statements. We suggest asking the following questions:
- How transparent is this company about their production and supply chain?
- What kind of materials are used in this product? How far do they come from?
- Is this company trying to upsell me on things I don’t need?
- Who is promoting their products? Do I see any real people talking about liking this product, or is it all influencers, anonymous accounts and bots?
- If I have a question about their sustainability, are they willing to answer it? Do I get an automated response to my question or do they take the time to address my concerns?
- Do I see any trusted sources, organizations or certifications that lead me to believe that this product is actually sustainable and ethical?
- Is this company using scarcity marketing? Did they produce more just for this holiday or are they selling leftover stock, upcycled items, or replacements for single-use items?
Some organizations that we look to for information about sustainable consumption are @threadingchange @attiremedia @fash_revbc @ecoroots @zerowastestore @sustainthemag @remakeourworld
