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How to Help Make Black Friday More Green from C2ES

While less shopping is always the more ecologically aware choice, here are some ideas for making Black Friday greener from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES).

Practice precycling. Precycling is the practice of avoiding the purchase of items that will produce waste such as packaging, whether that waste is recycled or not. After all, the most environmentally friendly product is the one that minimizes resources altogether. Find some tips on precycling.

Lighten the load and plan your shopping. Hauling unnecessary weight makes your car less efficient, so remove it if you want to save at the pump. According to the U.S. Department of Energy an extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces your fuel economy by up to 2 percent. By planning your holiday shopping trips and combining them with a friend you’ll both save time, money and gas. More transportation tips.

Be e-smart. The jury’s out on how you can ensure that online shopping is eco-friendly, but a good rule of thumb is to consolidate your shipments. The new trend of e-books and digital print formats is a great low-carbon gift idea. Websites like Inkmesh let you search titles and compare prices of e-books.

Bring reusable shopping bags. Whether you are shopping for holiday gifts or groceries, try to remember to bring reusable bags. Some retailers, including Giant, Kroger, Target and CVS, will give you a discount for using your own bags, and in some cities, retailers charge extra for plastic bags. This is an important step to reducing the 1 billion shopping bags responsible for 300,000 tons of landfill waste in the U.S. every year. Find other facts at Clean Air Council.

Buy recycled products. As you shop for holiday cards or gifts, check the label to see if recycled materials were used. Buying products made with recycled materials sends a signal to companies that consumers care. Find out how you can shop smarter.

Buy eco-friendly holiday lights. LED holiday lights use up to 90% less energy than their traditional counterparts. Look for them at your local retailer and visit the Department of Energy for more information.

Reduce and recycle wrapping paper. Did you know that household waste in the U.S. increases 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day? This year, skip the holiday wrapping aisle and use paper that might have been destined for the recycling bin such as comic pages, old maps, or paper bags.

Give a green gift. This year, consider giving a gift that keeps on giving by making a donation in your loved one’s name to a community charity or nonprofit group. If you’d still like to wrap something, consider these ideas for an eco-gift from recycled, reused and natural materials.

Click here to get more information on how you can save energy and help the planet.

Tips to Make Black Friday More Green from FatWallet

Black Friday is a consumer spectacle that is rife with excess and waste. However, FatWallet offers some tips on how to make your black Friday more green. 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. In terms of appliances and electronic devices, check for items that are rechargeable or energy-efficient. They should have the Energy Star logo on them if they are verified efficient machines. Another tip is to look for products that use minimal packaging. After all, if the box and plastic wrappings are going to be thrown away, why pay extra for them and add to the landfills? When it is time to pay, use a green credit card whenever possible. These are credit cards where a portion of each transaction that a customer makes goes towards support for green charities or causes. Finally, pack all of the new purchases into reusable shopping bags instead of reaching for a pile of plastic bags.

Green Buying Tips — Brush up on some common products with eco-friendly alternatives.

Shopping Green — Try shopping online or taking public transit to cut down on gas emissions.

Green Tuesday — This event provides an environmentally friendly shopping alternative where people can still find great deals.

Green Shopping Pointers — Shop guilt-free on Black Friday with these effective green tips.

Green Holiday Shopping — Getting an early start on holiday shopping this Black Friday? Use these helpful tips to avoid unnecessary wastage and pollution.

Buying Gifts (PDF) — This article outlines some helpful advice on shopping for eco-friendly gifts on Black Friday.

Think Before Buying — Learn how to properly examine products and ask the right questions to ensure that it is eco-friendly.

Reusable Items — Look for items that are reusable with a long lifespan to reduce the amount of trash that is created.

Black Friday Energy Tips — Stock up on energy-saving devices on Black Friday by knowing what to look for.

Waste-Wise Shopping — Shopping for items that are made from recycled materials is one way to go green on Black Friday.

The Rise of Green Tuesday — Over recent years, Green Tuesday has been quickly catching on as a more responsible way of shopping.

Make it a Green Friday — Buying local or cutting down on driving are a couple of ways to shop in an eco-friendly way.

Buying Books — This Black Friday when buying books, support responsible publishing companies that manufacture with recycled materials.

Advance Planning — Planning your purchases in advance can help towards a more green shopping experience.