As Black Friday approaches, the Isle of Wight Council is encouraging residents to shop more sustainably and reduce their environmental impact.
Black Friday remains one of the nation’s biggest shopping events, with an estimated £3.9 billion* expected to be spent in the UK this year.
Beginning on 28th November 2025, the sales promise huge discounts and tempting deals on everything from technology to fashion.
Before getting swept up in the excitement, it’s worth pausing to think about the environmental impact our shopping habits have.
Natasha Dix, Service Director Waste, Environment and Planning for the Isle of Wight Council said:
“We can all play a part in becoming more conscious consumers. As we head into Black Friday, it’s worth asking: Do I really need this? Can I buy it in-store to cut down on emissions?”
By making sustainable choices, we can all make a difference. Buying locally helps reduce air miles and CO₂ emissions, supports local businesses, and cuts down on waste. Black Friday often means more packaging too, so it’s important to think about how we dispose of it responsibly.
Tips to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
- Ask yourself if you really need the item.
- Choose quality over quantity – buy longer-lasting products rather than cheap, short-life goods.
- Group deliveries or choose slower shipping to reduce transport emissions.
- Buy pre-owned or second-hand items where possible.
- Check recyclability of both the product and its packaging.
What to Do with Packaging After Shopping
Once you’ve made your purchases, take care to recycle packaging correctly too.
- Cardboard boxes: Flatten them and remove any sticky tape or polystyrene before recycling. If you have extra, bundle it neatly and leave it beside your recycling bin on collection day.
- Bubble wrap and air pillows: These can’t be recycled and should go in your general waste bin or reusable sack Be sure to deflate air pillows first.
- Polystyrene and sticky tape: These can’t be recycled and should go in your general waste bin or reusable sack or be taken to your Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC). Polystyrene can take up to 500 years to decompose, so avoiding it where possible is best.
This Black Friday, let’s focus on ethical shopping and reducing our environmental footprint. By making conscious choices, we can enjoy this time of year while protecting the planet — one purchase at a time.
Be ok no one’s got any money this year thanks Labour thanks rach..
What a load of rubbish.
Thousands of persons flew to Brazil
to attend COP30
They didn’t give a **** about air miles or
emissions.
When will people admit it’s a con.
But you forget the mantra of the liberal elite – don’t do as I do – do as I say!
How thoughtful of the council to remind the little people that they must spend their dwindling pennies wisely to help the planet while they breeze round in their gas guzzling cars
Dix should stop lecturing people as to how she thinks they should lead their lives and just do her job.
The “advice” she gives:
Cardboard boxes: Flatten them and remove any sticky tape or polystyrene before recycling. If you have extra, bundle it neatly and leave it beside your recycling bin
is akin to treating residents as though they were children.
Perhaps we should tie a green ribbon with a bow around the cardboard!