Let’s Turn Black Friday Into Green Friday!

Things are bleak all around. It seems like every other day there’s news, either in the news or from someone I know, about more layoffs. The housing market, the stock market–it’s all going down, down, down. The only question remains: How low can it go?

So it’s no surprise that the U.S. retail sector is expecting a bleak holiday season, which kicks off on Black Friday, the name retailers have given the day after Thanksgiving. It is called that because that’s when stores get back into the black. I’m guessing this year might not live up to its name.

This study found that 59 percent of consumers expect to reduce their spending this holiday season. No shocker there. But wait! There’s a bright side: This study also found that 44 percent of consumers are willing to pay extra for green gifts–between 10 and 25 percent more.

This is great news amid a sea of bad. The study goes on to talk about green shopping practices, with 38 percent of consumers saying they will use fewer plastic bags while 21 percent are planning on not wrapping holiday gifts to conserve paper. (I use wrapping paper recycled from the previous year!) Online shopping also continues to be considered a greener practice, with more than one-third of consumers saying they will shop more online and in catalogs this year in order to save on gas.

How will your holiday spending be affected this year? Are you willing to pay a little more for eco-friendly presents? Please share in the comment field below!

I am definitely cutting down this year, trying to spend less on more meaningful gifts. And to me, meaningful more often than not means green. Looks like I’m not alone. I enjoy a good deal as much as the next girl, but I’ve never been keen on the idea of heading out to the stores on the busiest shopping day of the year. I might do a little online shopping and get some good green gifts for my friends, like reusable shopping bags and aluminum water bottles and nice-smelling bath stuff that doesn’t have all those yucky chemicals in them. (I also have my eye out for a kitchen composting bin for my sister, who has really gotten into gardening.) Other than that, I want to stay away from the malls and out of my car if possible. Maybe I’ll go for a bike ride if it’s not raining.

Hey, let’s change the day to Green Friday. What do you say?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

12:30AM PDT on Apr 8, 2012

Thanks for sharing.

send a green star

Carole H.

9:00AM PST on Feb 20, 2012

THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE!

Colin H.

5:18AM PST on Dec 26, 2010

Noted!!

5:16AM PST on Dec 26, 2010

Kath R.

4:27PM PST on Dec 25, 2010

Buying fewer things may seem bad for the economy but if you're spending a bit more for green products it all averages out in the end and helps all of us stay healthy.

Brian M.

10:33AM PST on Nov 28, 2010

Thanks

Charanna K.

11:49AM PST on Nov 26, 2010

i did a little shopping on Thursday with out the crowds. I keep cutting back on my giving every year. and try to do something for a birthday instead of giving something. most everyone in America has way to much of everything. myself included. spending time with someone is a wonderful way to celebrate!
I also got some reusable bottles and bags to give out as presents. Remember to REGIFT the presents you receive that you can not use.

Patrick W.

8:59AM PST on Nov 24, 2010

thanks

8:58AM PST on Nov 24, 2010

good article