‘Green’ Friday 2024 - How to spend and gift sustainably

“Black Friday has now established a solid position in the Dutch retail landscape”. With consumer’s willingness to spend money on a good ‘deal’ expected to increase. By now we know that overconsumption is driving pollution and climate change. Every year on the last Friday of November, retailers are encouraging more consumption with a number of deals. But is there a way to spend our money with the same ease, but with more consideration? How can we make better use of our economic power looking forward to this holiday season?

Choosing gifts that are in line with sustainability can require a little more creativity than normal, but it’s worth the effort. This year, consider “Green Friday” by making conscious choices. Instead of focusing on sales, invest in gifts that align with sustainability. In this article we outline some gift ideas for your friends and family and some businesses we think are worth supporting this ‘Green’ Friday and Holiday season.

Invest in experiences over things

Want to help curb overconsumption? Instead of something material, invest in giving your friends and family an experience. Gifts that encourage enjoying time together, time outdoors, or donating to an impactful cause in someone’s name.

Here are some suggestions from our ecosystem:

A South African food workshop from Sugar and Spice Creations South African (FPP Fall 2022)
A kimchi making workshop from Fermentex
KolenkitKoks (FCA 2024) catering meal from talented female home chefs entering the catering industry

Shop secondhand or vintage

If you are looking for a specific gift, it is always a good idea to look for second hand items that are still in good condition. This is a great option for items like electronics – one of the main consumer categories purchased on Black Friday, with the Dutch spending 366 million on consumer electronics during Black Friday in 2023. Second hand electronics are often much less expensive and still in great condition. In fact, buying second hand items often means you can find much more unique/high quality items (think: furniture, bikes, decor) at an affordable price, without contributing to overproduction of goods. Our partner Marktplaats is a great place to start.

Support local sustainable brands

At Impact Hub Amsterdam we believe in promoting an economic system that challenges the current system based on hyperconsumption. Instead we urge you to opt to support local brands championing sustainability, and vote with your euros. Here are some ideas from our ecosystem:

Food & Drinks:
If you would like to gift a physical gift that you can wrap (sustainably, of course!) for the foodies in your life, we’ve put together some ideas for you to go from. These companies are all part of our entrepreneurial impact ecosystem, and are all locally based in the Netherlands.

For the chilli aficionados: La Lia Chilli oil
For the experimental home cooks: make your own miso with Wakeat
For the flavour lovers: The Good spice spice
For the tea lovers: Nomadschai
For the home chefs looking for a big gift: Grovero (now in pre-sale
For the non-drinkers: Bemuse mead & wine (note, they are UK-based)
For the baristas: Daffee, coffee made out of beans from date
For the condiment connoisseurs: Elis Deli

Clothing:
There is enough clothing on the planet to clothe the next six generations, so we believe the best type of clothing gift is the type of clothing that is already in circulation. Two brands from our network come to mind. Want to gift a special clothing item made from waste textiles from the luxury hotel industry? MARTAN is the place. Another option would be to join a clothing loop and get ‘new’ clothes regularly. Or would you like to help your friends and family keep their clothing in play for longer? Mended – a circular platform that connects brands and individuals with local craftspeople to make repairing and altering clothes as easy as buying new ones is the choice for you.

Repair, reuse, upcycle

Circularity is more than just recycling! Think – reuse, repair, refurbish, repurpose.

If we follow the R-ladder, we can find creative ways to lower consumption. Perhaps you could offer your unique abilities to repair or repurpose an item you, or your gift-ee already own, giving new life to items that are being unused. These are the type of offers you won’t find on a Black Friday sale and can often feel more personal and thoughtful to receive.

Overall, we encourage you to use this Black Friday and Holiday season to choose gifts that encourage sustainability. This may mean you abstain from buying anything, or it could mean making more conscious choices about where to spend your money.

By shifting your focus from mass consumption to mindful giving, you can enjoy the holiday season knowing your money is making a positive impact. Whether it’s by supporting sustainable brands, investing in experiences, or donating to a cause, your choices matter. This Green Friday, shop smarter, greener, and with purpose.