We’re coming back to that time of year where virtually every company in the world offers major sales, and we all go CRAZY! That’s right, Black Friday is just around the corner.

It’s an exciting, festive time of year and thousands of people will be taking advantage of the Black Friday deals. However, in the light of recent climate strikes, there’s no doubt that climate change is on people’s minds. We’re sharing some simple but effective ways you can be mindful of the environment during Black Friday this year! Let’s get into it. 

Photo of the Toronto climate strike by @lewypee

1. Shop eco-friendly brands

Almost every eco-friendly brand—big or small—has Black Friday deals. It’s so easy to make a simple switch in who you’re buying from, and it can make all the difference. American author Anna Lappé says, “Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” If more and more people adopt this mindset, big companies will eventually start to take notice, feel the pressure and make some important shifts towards sustainability.

2. Shop locally-made

It is always better for the environment to shop locally because you can avoid additional shipping and therefore avoid excessive carbon emissions. It’s also so much nicer to receive a thoughtful, locally-made gift! Shopping local helps fuel your local economy and supports small businesses. When you shop locally, it's also more likely that the people who created the products were paid a fair living wage.

3. Shop less: don't impulse buy

Ever gone on a shopping spree, and realized a week later that you didn’t really need (or even want) 75% of what you bought? That’s the power of the impulse buy. Just because something is a great sale, doesn’t mean you need it, or that you’ll wear it. And if you don’t love that purchase, it’s never worth the price—no matter how cheap! When it comes to apparel, we like to ask ourselves these questions before adding items to our cart: How often will I wear it? How will I care for it? Where was it made? What is it made of? How long will it last? How does it make me feel? Never buy something that won’t be worn or used!

4. Look for energy efficient gadgets

The best gifts are the ones that keep on giving. From rechargeable batteries to reusable sandwich bags, looking for ways to reduce everyday waste is great for our wallets and our landfills. Here’s a blog post with a handful of products to get your mind going. When it comes to technology items, read here for some products that would make great gifts for the holidays, or for your home! When you find products you’d like, make a list and shop intentionally over the Black Friday weekend rather than blindly heading into a website full of seductive deals.

5. Gift wrap in reusable wrapping

Save gift wrapping from events during the year and reuse it over the holidays, or use materials that might already be in your recycling bin. Think cardboard, newspapers, baskets, shoe boxes or paper. Paint it, stamp it, DIY it, and keep it out of our landfills for longer by giving it a new life!

Photo from Stocksy

 6. Don't choose rush shipping

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blurred together now that everyone would prefer to shop from the comfort of their living room. One of the things we're cautious about (and don’t offer on our website) is express shipping. This causes lots of half-empty trucks to be on the road, driving longer distances to deliver packages. Choosing standard shipping and waiting just a little longer ensures companies can optimize their deliveries for fewer, fuller trucks making deliveries. It’s a small change we can all make, and it’s worth the wait!

 7. Look for carbon offsets

We recently posted about our carbon offset checkout feature, and we would encourage you to look for this opportunity as you online shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Many brands have started adding it to help reduce your carbon footprint. We love this option: it’s a great way to give back and continue to be mindful of the earth as you shop.

There are so many ways we can positively contribute to the environment during Black Friday. Miik will be participating in the festivities, as always! Be sure to subscribe to our email list for first access to all our amazing deals this year. Styles always sell quickly, so sign up and make sure you snag all your favourites!