That said, we all love a good deal. Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds by shopping more consciously and taking the opportunity to support ethical companies while enjoying great discounts on products that won’t harm you or the environment. Here’s how…
Cruelty Free Beauty
- 4 signs you have low iron levels
- Zero Waste Beauty: Adopt a green routine with these sustainable products
- This eco-friendly beauty box is packed with refillable multi-taskers
- “I find myself using it even when I don’t need to!”
- Arctic-inspired natural skincare brand launches in the UK
- Green People launches beauty balm packaged in 100% biodegradable pot
- Lush launches same-day delivery service for its iconic handmade cosmetics
- “This cruelty-free tanning water gave me the confidence boost I needed”
- rho launches sustainable loungewear that gives back
- Rose & Caramel Raises Awareness For Women’s Self-Esteem & Mental Health With ‘I TAN FOR ME’ Campaign
- Couple launches entirely plant-based and refillable deodorant on Kickstarter
- View all
Eco Living
- Simple Hacks to Cut Your Food Waste with Gino D’Acampo
- Five Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste
- Eat these foods to boost your mood
- Upgrade Your Cheese Toastie
- Have a healthy Christmas with these festive food swaps
- Omega-3 Health Benefits
- 5 minutes with Max La Manna
- A nutritionist’s guide to eating for healthy joints
- Easy ways to achieve your health goals
- Discover the benefits of raisins on a vegetarian diet
- Improve your gut health with California Raisins
- View all
Vegan Recipes
- Quorn Vegan Hot & Spicy Burger with Pink Slaw
- Tomato and Pumpkin Soup
- Pea and elderflower cocktail
- Matcha Coconut Ice Cream
- Vegan Lemon Bars
- Mango Salad with Thai Dressing
- Garden Gimlet
- Tofu & Green Beans Teriyaki
- Cornflakes Bombay
- Rainbow Pickle
- Soba noodles with kale and collards
- View all
Popular recipes
- Spinach and ricotta quiche vegetarian recipe
- Cheats mushroom and spinach lasagne vegetarian recipe
- Lentil bolognese vegetarian recipe
- Creamy mushroom stroganoff vegetarian recipe
- Malaysian Rendang curry vegetarian recipe
- Feta, Butternut Squash, Caramelised Onion and Cashew Nut Wellingtons
News
- EAT. has launched a vegan cheese toastie just in time for autumn
- rho launches sustainable loungewear that gives back
- Dobbies’ introduce brand new range of sustainable houseplants
- Your Christmas tree could help preserve the Borneo rainforest
- A catering company is now delivering vegetarian and vegan ingredients to your doorstep
- Charity provides free meals to children and families with surplus food
- Oatly is Giving Away Free Tea and Coffee Across the UK
- This vegan cheese range is now available in the UK
- MOVING MOUNTAINS LAUNCHES PLANT-BASED MEATBALLS AND MINCE
- Your coronavirus mask could support vulnerable communities in Madagascar
- New vegan ‘smoked salmon’ offers plant-based alternative to fish
- View all
Easy ways to make Black Friday green
While mega sales may be tempting, discount campaigns like Black Friday are anything but sustainable.
1. Think Green
Before you get caught up in the craziness that is Black Friday, first consider whether you actually need anything. There's nothing wrong with shopping, but in a weekend that's all about materialism, it's worth taking a step back to think about whether you really need that item that's on special offer. If you weren't already thinking about it before those Black Friday deals flooded your inbox, perhaps you don't really need it. If you do need items, try to choose ethical companies and products who give back to communities and the planet.
2. Buy Secondhand
A recent OnePoll study commissioned by giffgaff revealed that six in 10 people say it's more important than ever to shop 'green' where possible. What's more, two-thirds of people consider the environmental and social impact of their purchases, from clothes, to white goods and gadgets. It's leading to more of us shopping for secondhand and refurbished items, which is not only cheaper but also better for the planet as it results in less waste - it also makes for a more unique shopping experience! At a time of year where people feel pressured by the consumerism ethos surrounding mega sales, giffgaff is hosting a Black Friday pop-up shop where 100 items (including 'like new' refurbished phones) will be displayed, yet none of them are for sale. So, what's the catch? To enter, you just have to 'pay' with a pledge and commit to choosing refurbished wherever possible. Friday 29th November, 10am-5pm. 9-11 Short's Gardens, London
3. Sustainability Matters
There's no denying that Black Friday is the ideal opportunity to bag a bargain on your favourite brands as well as new ones. But make a conscious choice to shop more sustainably by supporting eco-friendly and ethical companies like Beauty Kitchen. The brand, which creates natural, cruelty-free products made with sustainable materials, is offering 70% off all of its Sustainable Black Friday Outlet products until 2nd December, so there's no rush to purchase your items in just 24 hours. Take your pick from over 80 items, including skincare, hair care and beauty bundles. The company also donates 2% of its sales to various charities, including Plastic Soup Foundation, so you'll know that your purchase is having a positive impact on the environment as well as the community.
4. Be a Rebel
Reuse. Recycle. Revamp. That's the concept at the newly launched VAMPED, an immersive upcycling experience created by WhiP hair salon in London. The event brings together design, craft, workshops and live reworking of old clothes so you can ditch the deals in favour of giving your existing wardrobe a lovingly creative makeover. Sit back and enjoy a full programme of music, art, and fashion performances while turning an old item - be it a T-shirt, jeans, bag or shoes - into a 'new' masterpiece. It's not only a fun day out, but a great way to rebel against the Black Friday trend. Tickets cost £10 and profits are donated to charity Crisis in aid of homelessness. Saturday 30th November, 11am-6pm. Night Tales, Bohemia Place, Hackney Central, London.
5. Green is the New Black
Not all shopping is bad, especially when it could ultimately help do good! Join in Plastic Freedom's Green Friday movement where you can get your hands on eco-friendly and plastic-free gifts for people to help them on their sustainable journey. Until 2nd December, you can shop for essential products from brands like Zao, Georganics, Hydro Phil, Chilly's, and Wild Sage & Co. There's everything from refillable, plastic-free make-up to stocking sets, travel gift packs, reusable wine and tumbler sets, zero-waste utensil kits, and more. Aside from discounts of up to 45%, you'll also receive a free gift on orders over £75, additional discounts the more you spend, and the chance to unveil secret codes with your order! For a company that's all about living a zero-waste, plastic-free life, we love the ethos behind this spin on the traditional Black Friday campaign.
More from Vegetarian blog
Thick, creamy and conveniently versatile, coconut yoghurt has never been so readily available in the UK. Not yet tried this delicious dairy-free substitute? Pick up a pot of The Coconut Collaborative's natural yoghurt and get experimenting with these tasty recipes...
Deputy editor, Sophie, reflects on the highs and lows of her vegan challenge...
This month we’ve added a 28 Days of Clean Eating supplement - free with every Veggie Mag; this little book is set to be your go-to guide for a healthier new you this February, here are your seven bonus recipes…
Struck down with the lurgy, deputy editor, Sophie turns her attention to natural health remedies and ethical beauty...
Make the most of nuts and seeds and their optimum nutritional benefits by activating them. Confused? CNM natural chef Cheryl Thomson explains...