10 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! FEATURE 1 Raring2go! Black Friday alone is estimated to be responsible for the release of around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, according to research by Leeds University. But around 80% of items bought on Black Friday are thrown away after a few uses, some without being used at all. Buying high volumes of stuff we don’t need is causing enormous harm to our planet. From manufacturing and packaging to shipping and delivery, every stage of the production cycle emits huge volumes of carbon which is heating up Earth to unsustainable levels. Keep Britain Tidy, which recently published its manifesto highlighting how the planet is drowning in plastic and waste, has issued a plea to people across England to save their pennies - and the planet - this Black Friday. From November 24 people will be able to sign up to take part in its upcoming waste reduction campaign, Buy Nothing New Month, which will run throughout January.You can sign up at: www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/supportour-campaigns/buy-nothing-new-month The campaign challenges people to buy nothing new - apart from essentials like food or medicine - for a whole month and to turn to environmentally friendly alternatives like upcycling, repairing, borrowing or buying preloved. The charity's research shows many people mistakenly believe recycling is a form of waste prevention, and it is now highlighting how the “waste hierarchy” - a framework that ranks how we manage our waste according to what is best for the environment - prioritises preventing waste in the first place, ahead of reuse and recycling. Small changes to our buying habits can help protect our future - in fact last year 65% of people who took part managed to buy nothing new! Those who sign up will receive tips to use throughout January and beyond on how to live more sustainably and will join thousands of others making a difference. Buy Nothing NewMonth Leading environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is urging spenders to resist the lure of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to reduce the amount of waste we produce.
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