How to Green Your Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday is a consumer spectacle that is rife with excess and waste. However, there are some easy ways that we can reduce our environmental impacts. Here are five simple tips from FatWallet that can help to make your black Friday more green.

1. Recycled Products: Try to find products that that are made from recycled or biodegradable materials. For example, several book publishers now only print books made from recycled paper.

2. Energy Efficient Electronics: When buying appliances and electronic devices, check for items that are rechargeable or energy-efficient. Look for the Energy Star logo.

3. Minimal Packaging: Look for products that use minimal packaging.

4. Green Credit Cards: Use a green credit cards where a portion of each transaction that a customer makes goes towards support for green charities or causes.

5. Reusable Bags: Pack all of the new purchases into reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags.

12 Additional links for the greener consumer

Green Shopping Pointers — Shop on Black Friday with these green tips.

Green Holiday Shopping — Helpful tips to avoid unnecessary wastage and pollution.
Green Buying Tips — Common products and their eco-friendly alternatives.

Buying Gifts (PDF) — Helpful advice on shopping for eco-friendly gifts.

Think Before Buying — Examine products and ask the right questions.

Reusable Items — Seek reusable items with a long lifespan for waste reduction.

Black Friday Energy Tips — Energy-saving devices.

Waste-Wise Shopping — Items made from recycled materials.
Shopping Green — Try shopping online or taking public transit to cut down on gas emissions.

Make it a Green Friday — Buying local or cutting down on driving.

Advance Planning — Planning your purchases in advance makes for efficient shopping.
Green Tuesday — An environmentally friendly shopping alternative.