Boycott Black Friday
Savings But at What Cost?
Why millions are joining the movement to boycott Black Friday and Cyber Monday
We are witnessing a growing backlash against unsustainable consumption, typified by the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The statistics around this 4 day weekend of excessive consumption are terrifying. 80% of the electronics and clothing ordered are reported to end up in landfill, and 400,000 tons of CO2 is released into the atmosphere from UK home deliveries alone. It's almost impossible to comprehend the damage being done to our planet when we learn that an estimated 1 truckload of clothing goes to landfill or incineration every second as a result of the Black Friday weekend.A recent survey shows 14.5 million UK adults are willing to boycott Black Friday due to environmental concerns, and 86% of independent retailers questioned have stated that they will not be participating. The advertised savings are very often misleading and someone, somewhere will be bearing the cost, most often lowly paid workers, operating in poor conditions, producing goods made from cheap and nasty materials, which have a detrimental impact on the environment.
At Bohemia our ethos has always been to produce goods in an ethical and sustainable manner. We believe in slow craft and making in small batches, mindful of the precious resources we are using and the quality of life of the artisans we partner with. Instinctively, the traditional crafting communities we work alongside have an awareness of the value of raw materials, with recycling and a zero waste attitude as second nature.
Rather than join in the frenzy of Black Friday, which goes against everything we stand for, we offer a genuine opportunity to purchase authentic, handcrafted wares at a discounted price in the Outlet section of our website. These are products made with the same love and attention to detail as our full price ranges but include end of line, sample pieces or slight seconds, which we need to clear to make room in our warehouse. Items are added year round so that customers can make purchases at a time that suits them instead of being pressured into unnecessary spending during a hyped up 4 day extravaganza of consumerism.
The encouraging signs of a shift in consciousness are growing, with 79% of adults in the UK believing in the importance of supporting local businesses when shopping this Christmas. On 2nd December, the Small Business Saturday campaign reminds people of the value of independent businesses and the role they play in our local communities. And in striking contrast to Black Friday, Holly Tucker again this year is rebranding the day as Colour Friday, and inviting shoppers to think indie and 'shop small' on November 24th.
Sources:
Green Alliance
Keep Britain Tidy
British Independent Retailers Association
Ethical Consumer
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
American Express