rethink sustainability
10 tips for smart, sustainable shopping this Black Friday
It’s upon us: the time of year when many of us excitedly (or uneasily, depending on your disposition) head to the shops to take advantage of Black Friday and pre-Christmas sales. However, it is worth remembering that our purchasing decisions can strain more than just our Christmas shopping budget.
Our current economy relies far too heavily on environmentally destructive activities, like resource extraction, non-recyclable waste disposal, and burning fossil fuels. As such, what we buy also accounts for much of the human activity that is straining nature’s budgets – otherwise known as the planetary boundaries.
For instance, the fashion industry alone produces around 10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions1. Nearly a third of all the food humanity produces annually is wasted2. 99% of all the plastic ever made has been dumped into landfill, incinerated, or lost to the environment as pollution. And, in one way or another, these and other sustainability issues are exacerbated by our voracious consumption habits especially in the run up to events such as Christmas.
But if our festive spirit is capable of causing damage at a planetary scale, then it’s just as capable of repairing some of that damage – provided we re-think how we express our seasonal goodwill. Here are ten ideas for a more sustainable Black Friday week and a more Circular, Lean, Inclusive, and Clean (CLIC®) holiday season, inspired by our archive of CLIC® Chronicles which showcase companies leading the way to a greener economy.
Read our archive of CLIC® Chronicles here
1. Let reputation be your guide
The easiest way to make your shopping more sustainable is to seek out brands famed for their focus on the environment. One such company is Patagonia, who we spoke to in 2022 about their industry-leading progress on all things sustainability – from emissions to circularity – as well as their external climate activism. Buying from brands such as Patagonia will ensure the longevity of your wardrobe as they repair, recycle and re-use materials.
2. Look for sustainable design
In industries that have yet to come under much environmental scrutiny, consumer choice can help create incentives for change. For instance, if you’re renovating your home this season or looking to gift a piece of furniture, it may be worthwhile starting your search at Swiss design icon Vitra, who sat down with us in 2022 to talk about their family business, how they put sustainability at the centre of their design process and opt for materials and production processes that don’t harm the environment.
3. Prioritise recycled materials
Another approach is to seek out brands known for their focus on a particular aspect of sustainability that aligns with your values. For instance, those looking for timeless outfitting with a fashion-forward twist might choose to buy from Ecoalf as they focus on incorporating recycled materials into their products from shoes and bags to jackets and jumpers. Around 70% of Ecoalf’s collection is made from such materials making it a truly eco-friendly brand.
4. Buy for life
Durability is the surest way to sustainability. For instance, most of us don’t like to replace our household items unless we absolutely have to. So, if you’ve got items like coffee makers or cookware on your Christmas shopping list or need to replace a few things, it makes sense to find a brand known for making hard-wearing, repairable products. SEB, for example, makes an extensive range of household items through well-known brands such as Calor, Rowena, and Tefal – 94% of which are repairable for at least a decade.
5. Gift for a second life
Fast-fashion has a bad reputation but there are brands out there firmly focussing on circularity to reduce the amount of waste this industry creates. One example is fashion retailer Zalando who are pioneering new business models designed to maximise the lifespan of their products, such as repair, care, and re-use services that could one day give your clothes (or gift) a second life.
6. Think outside the box
Sometimes, consumer-facing companies take an especially innovative approach to sustainability. Take eyeglasses company VIU. Over 60% of the global population wear glasses and VIU not only offer a range of 3D-printed glasses that are both stylish and sustainable but also re-distribute unwanted glassed all around the world to those in need.
7. Search for green credentials
When it comes to sustainability, the most impactful companies will ultimately be those that operate at scale. So, as long as their green credentials check out, there’s no reason to avoid well-known brands when Christmas shopping. For instance, as the first botanical cosmetics brand, beauty giant Rocher Group has had a close connection with nature since its founding in 1959. The Group’s recent work on sustainability includes the 2017 co-founding of the Responsible Beauty Initiative (RBI), a sector-wide scheme geared towards creating a more sustainable beauty supply chain.
8. … Or the sustainable boutique brand …
Before large companies can bring a refined sustainable innovation to the masses, they are often inspired by small, agile companies that offer a bold new take on a product. The aptly named Beauty Disrupted is doing just that by re-inventing the humble bar of soap as both a pleasurable indulgence and a polymer-free solution to many of the sustainability issues associated with selling liquid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners in plastic bottles – a solution the company hopes will one day become the industry norm.
9. Conscious gifts that keep on giving
When looking to buy a beloved piece of jewellery to keep for life or pass down to the next generation, look to brands such as Chopard. They make a wide selection of sustainable luxury jewellery and watches using high-end recycled metals and they are committed to responsible sourcing. A gift to treasure for life.
10. Turn to the B Corporation® logo
Whatever you buy or wherever you decide to shop this Black Friday or during the upcoming holiday season, one of the fastest ways to find a sustainable brand is to check their website for the Certified B Corporation® logo. Every B Corp™, from Innocent Drinks (who we spoke to back in 2020) to the aforementioned Patagonia must pass a wide-reaching, rigorous comprehensive sustainability assessment of every aspect of their business before being awarded their certification so it is a quick and easy way to be sure that the gifts you give this Christmas are made or sold by a brand that prioritises sustainability.
1 European Parliament (2023) ‘The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographics)’.
2 World Food Programme (2020). ‘5 facts about food waste and hunger’
Important information
This document is issued by Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd or an entity of the Group (hereinafter “Lombard Odier”). It is not intended for distribution, publication, or use in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be unlawful, nor is it aimed at any person or entity to whom it would be unlawful to address such a document. This document was not prepared by the Financial Research Department of Lombard Odier.
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