Black Friday is known as the biggest shopping day of the year. With that, comes a lot of excess and overconsumption, and that begs the question; should a conscious consumer participate in Black Friday?

The answer to this depends on who you ask, what your values are, and what you consider when making purchases. Do I think we should cancel Black Friday? No. No, I don’t, but I do think there are ways to make it more sustainable and to avoid overconsumption. Here are some tips to help making conscious decisions when purchasing:

MAKE A LIST OF THINGS YOU NEED AHEAD OF TIME AND STICK TO THE PLAN

Temptation is hard! By having a list beforehand, this helps you stay on task and not get distracted by all the shiny things on sale.

STOCK UP ON ESSENTIALS

This is a great time to stock up on sustainable shelf-stable consumables that you have to buy, no matter what— such as home and hygiene products: toilet paper, soap, cleaning products, etc.

SUPPORT SMALL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES

Shopping at big box retailers is easy, we know that, but supporting small and sustainable businesses is so important. Look for fair trade certifications, ethical working conditions, brand transparency, organic and plant based materials, sustainable manufacturing, vegan or vegan friendly, charitable, b-corp certifications, etc.