Shopping carts at the ready – Singles’ Day is just around the corner! Introduced in 2009 by online marketplace, Alibaba, China’s biggest shopping event of the year is back on November 11 with an expected 900 million eager shoppers ready to check out. Of course, in recent years, international brands and retailers have jumped on the bandwagon too, with plenty of their own Singles’ Day sales to feed the shopping frenzy.
Before going crazy on the sales, here are some tips on how to stay green, reduce your carbon footprint, and still enjoy some shopping this Singles’ Day:
1. Support sustainable brands
Over 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced each year by the global fashion industry, so if you’re going to shop, do your part by supporting sustainable brands. Or, look for products that are made from sustainable, recycled or earth-friendly fabrics.
2. Opt for standard shipping
Fact: The average consumer makes 30 online purchases a year. If 90% of those purchases are shipped standard vs express, it would prevent 24 lbs of CO2.
Yes, standard shipping means it might take longer for your items to arrive, but as they say, good things – and doing good – are worth the wait!
3. Avoid impulse shopping
Singles’ Day sales are designed to be enticing and you might be tempted to click ‘buy’ on pretty much everything, but try to reduce impulse spending and only buy things that you’ve had your eye on for a while.
Also, make sure that it’s in the right size so that you can avoid having to make too many returns. Over 25% of returns end up in landfill as they are cannot be resold, creating 500 billion pounds of waste in the US alone.
4. Shop from one site only
This may seem like a no-brainer, but if possible, shop from a single site or minimise the number of sites you buy from so that you can reduce the amount of shipping and packaging needed. The best part is, you might even be eligible for deeper discounts by doing so.
5. Buy pre-loved items
Resale sites like Vestiaire Collective and Hula are great options for indulging in some Singles’ Day shopping. By buying pre-loved, you’ll be preventing more textile waste from entering the landfill, while still staying completely on trend.
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See also: Make a Splash In These 8 Sustainable Swimwear Brands
