Putting sustainability and people first

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Putting Sustainability and People First

As Black Friday edges closer, we take a look at the impact it has on our planet as well as a closer look at global events such as COP27 - UN Climate Change Conference and FIFA World Cup.

In America alone, 155 million shoppers snagged up deals on Black Friday in 2021, spending a massive $8.9 billion online. A survey from Finder.com found that 140 million Americas plan to shop end-of-year sales this year, with men being slightly (3%) more likely to hit the Black Friday sales than women.

Before you fill up your online basket, let us not forget the environmental impacts that Black Friday has on the planet. Due to Covid, online shopping has increased massively and surprisingly, this can lead to higher emissions than purchasing from brick-and-mortar stores.

• In 2021, UK deliveries from Black Friday were estimated to release over 429,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
• Annually, the delivering and shipping of online orders account for 4% of the world’s emissions

However, as the UK faces the reality of a cost-of-living crisis, should we sacrifice sustainability in order to afford essentials and energy bills? Studentbeans’ Amie Edwards-McLean has said that Gen Z shoppers, although being the largest demographic to shop, will aim to be more thrifty - prioritising saving over spending.

We took to LinkedIn to ask our followers to share their stance on the holiday. These are the results:

What else is happening?

• COP27 has now come to a close and with the outcome proving that organisations will struggle to hit the commitment of limiting global heating by 1.5C, sustainability once again becomes a difficult conversation. If you’re still looking to learn more about sustainable practices and how we can reduce global warming, read our list of top sustainability podcasts here.
• The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is well underway. There has already been an uproar in the discourse surrounding FIFA’s decision to host it in Qatar due to their laws against homosexuality, unethical treatment of workers, and the restrictions set on women. However, three women have made history for being the first female referees to officiate at a men’s FIFA World Cup.
• Following the World Cup, the UK government has urged employers to allow flexible working hours so staff can watch the games. Raising the question of why this is the case for a sporting event and not for women who have tirelessly fought for hybrid or flexible work schedules. Read more about it here.

?? Top news stories of the week

41% of women were banned from playing football in school

Grace Beverley ’s fitness brand TALA looks at the barriers that have held women back in the sporting industry, while discussing how they can be challenged

Read here

Racial equity: Normalising the conversation

As employers urgently need to prioritise creating environments free of racial disparities, we spoke to four experts who shared their opinions

Read here

67% of working mothers have had their careers “stalled”

New research from workingmums.co.uk has found that two-thirds of working mothers feel their careers have been “stalled” by having children

Read here

? Spotlight

This week, we shine the spotlight on Chlo? Gillard , Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager at Version 1 , whose passion for women was found through a non-traditional pathway.

Read more

Top 8 ways to shop sustainably on Black Friday 2022

Before you get swept away in the excitement of bagging a bargain deal, discover how you can make more sustainable purchases this Black Friday

Discover the list

8 Minutes With | Lakshmi Devan, LGBTQIA+ and Mental Health Advocate

By day, Lakshmi Devan is the Brand and Communications Advisor for Vortle . By night, she is a fierce online voice normalising conversations around mental health and LGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace.

Lakshmi Devan shares how we need to make employees feel safe to ensure they are engaged and to bring your true self to work.

Have you noticed that everything that we define ‘professional’ is everything that a human is not. How is it a human being cannot carry their emotions to work?

About March8

March8 is an inspiring and informative community of women executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and overachievers. March8 recognises, celebrates and champions the achievements and contributions made by women in both business and society. Our community offers practical and compelling career, financial and lifestyle resources to help women take their careers to the next level and achieve a work-life balance.

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Read the November edition?of March8 Magazine.

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