The holiday season during the coronavirus is coming up, and following it an entire month Black Friday sales, gift buying, gift wrapping, and package delivering. Ignore the commercials urging you to buy the next gadget or spend a ton of money on gifts. Take advantage of sales put on by sustainable businesses rather than buying from wasteful ones. This way you are supporting a circular economy and Voting With Your Dollar!
Waste increases during the Holidays
- An additional 1 million tons of American household waste goes to our landfills in between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day (EPA).
- This is subject to increase with the coronavirus pandemic due to an increase in online shopping which requires more packaging.
- With 1 million tons of additional waste in our landfills and incinerators, more greenhouse gasses such as methane and carbon dioxide will be put into our atmosphere.
- An additional 1 million tons of plastics and toxic inorganic material will enter our soil, water and air.
- Additional greenhouse gas emissions will be produced when manufacturing and shipping increases during the holidays.
- Learn more about the impacts of household waste on the environment here.
What makes a product sustainable?
- Material
- No hazardous material or ingredients that deplete natural resources
- Life-Cycle
- Little to no waste during the entire lifetime of the product
- The product is durable and has social and environmental benefits.
- Production
- Low-impact and ethical labor are practiced when making your product
- Disposal
- The product can be reused, repurposed, recycled, or composted.
Some sustainable brands with Black Friday deals!
Trash Planet
Vegan, ethically made sneakers and streetwear. Shoes are produced with at least 50% recycled material. This brand will also plant 50 trees with each purchase.
Patagonia Worn Wear
Thrift online and stay safe and healthy!
Dab Herb Makeup
Vegan/ Zero Waste beauty products
Ten Thousand Villages
Fair trade gifts
Zero Waste... Did You Know?
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- General Zero Waste info and news
- Facts, concepts, and opinions from CU students, faculty, and staff
- Industry news and policy
- Zero Waste Lifestyle and DIY ideas