Swap Black Friday For Buy Nothing Day
You Can Easily Participate In This Holiday By Not Buying Anything
The fashion industry has a dirty little secret.
They are a huge polluter. Huge.
In fact, the No. #2 polluter on the planet after the oil and gas industry, is textiles, and specifically the fast fashion industry.
Fast fashion is inexpensive, trendy knock-off garments, mass-produced at a low cost. These threads are not intended to last; they are inspired by the latest fashion styles that are always changing and get thrown away after a few wears.
Putting out all those clothes out on the racks comes with a price.
The textile industry is one of the most chemically intensive industries on the planet and one of the biggest polluters of clean water—right behind agriculture.
Recent studies have revealed that only one in 10 fashion companies even know or track their water pollution levels, while few companies have set goals to reduce water pollution across the supply-chain.
Wastewater from the production of synthetic fabrics, which requires 70 million barrels of oil per year, releases lead, arsenic, benzene, and other pollutants into water sources. You can read more about it here.
You might experience a boost to your happiness from buying something in the short term, but in the long-term all this stuff really stresses us out. Just ask anyone who is in the process of moving!
Spending your money on experiences rather than stuff actually helps you feel happier, according to science.
Enter Buy Nothing Day
Instead of shopping all those Black Friday deals this year, consider getting outside or just spending the day with loved ones.
Buy Nothing Day is an international day of protest against rampant consumerism.
Each year, as an alternative to Black Friday, which is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, you can take a break from buying anything. Stay home, enjoy your leftovers and enjoy time off, if you have it.
I’m grateful to this newsletter group and all your support. I know so much of what we write about here can feel downright depressing. It’s important to take time when you can to care of yourself—whatever that looks like to you. Find ways to recharge and rest.
When it comes to all this holiday shopping hoopla, I know none of us are perfect. It can be hard to resist a good sale, especially with sky-high inflation and all the pressures associated with gift giving.
I’m not saying don’t ever shop again, but maybe take this day off or if you must shop, try to support companies that care about the planet. Shop local and sustainable whenever you can. Regift items that you don’t use anymore or offer to help someone on your list repair an item rather than buying something new.
Let me know in the comments below, are you buying less this year?
My wife and I have spent the last few months getting rid of un-needed stuff and it has felt great. The only thing I tend to buy are books but only sporadically and always from small booksellers. I don’t intend on buying anything (besides maybe a book) on “Black Friday”. 🌎🔥
Thank you for an important post, Ms. Brockovich. I've never been one to accumulate much, but it still was a shock to move after 35 years! My legal work for the Ohio EPA taught me a lot about waste...and it saddens me to know where all of these cheap products end up. Thanks so much for all of your incredibly hard work on behalf of our environment.