Research from consumer champions Which? found that 98% of Black Friday deals in 2021 were cheaper, or the same price, at other times of the year. This pointlessness is all the more frustrating given the significant environmental toll of the event.


Many businesses are now choosing to quit Black Friday entirely. For outdoor brand REI, that means closing their doors to give staff a paid day to spend outside. For Freitag, who make bags from upcycled truck tarpaulin, it means closing their shops and asking customers to swap goods instead. 


Escape the consumerism by celebrating 'buy nothing day'—just one suggestion on this nice list of alternative ideas from Positive News.