Green Friday: Promoting Sustainable Alternatives

We’ve all heard of the global shopping frenzy that is Black Friday—and chances are, many of us have participated in it. But have you heard of Green Friday?

While Black Friday promises steep discounts and endless deals, it often comes with a significant hidden cost: the environment. During the biggest sales event of the year, an additional 429,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are released globally. To put that into perspective, that is the equivalent of 435 roundtrip flights from London to New York.

Black Friday lures in impulse purchases and overconsumption with its enticing promotional advertisements and deals. People end up buying items that they do not really need for the sake of a good bargain. 

A study revealed that a staggering 80% of Black Friday purchases were thrown away. 

Most of those discarded items ended up in landfills, and nearly all of the electronic waste (e-waste) went to low-quality recycling facilities, where it entered the waste management system. This disposal contributes to the growing global problem of e-waste, a crisis that disproportionately affects third-world countries.

E-waste is particularly concerning because it is not only an environmental issue—it is also a social and economic one. Improperly recycled electronics contain harmful substances like lead and mercury, which pollute local water and soil.

Component Sense’s CEO, Kenny McGee, recently sat down with award-winning photographer and journalist Carolina Rapezzi to have an insightful talk about the detrimental effects of e-waste in Ghana. 

What is Green Friday?

Green Friday is an anti-Black Friday movement that promotes sustainable and mindful shopping habits. Instead of succumbing to the temptation of seasonal sales, Green Friday encourages consumers to pause, reflect, and prioritise sustainability instead. 

Before purchasing new electronics or any other items, ask yourself these questions:

• What do I already own?

• Does it really need to be replaced?

• Can it be repaired instead?

• Do I genuinely need it, or am I just buying it because it is on sale?

Each Black Friday, Component Sense encourages conscious consumption. We believe in creating a world where sustainability is the norm—not the exception. We are dedicated to promoting a circular economy, where electronic components are redistributed rather than discarded. 

Starting with the electronics manufacturing industry, our business tackles e-waste at its roots. Component Sense acts as an intermediary and acquires brand-new, never-used excess and obsolete (E&O) components that would otherwise be disposed of, expanding their lifespan and ensuring they are used as originally intended  By promoting a circular economy, it limits the need for disposal or recycling. 

Through our zero-waste approach, we strive to reduce e-waste from the outset.

Additionally, Component Sense plants two trees for every order, offsets all our carbon emissions with our DSV partnership, and has saved over 31 million electronic parts from ending up in landfills. To learn more about our sustainability efforts, read our Waste Manifesto.