The Impact of Black Friday on our Environment
134 MILLION PEOPLE SHOPPED ONLINE ON BLACK FRIDAY IN 2023. A 7.5% INCREASE FROM 2022.
Likewise, 76.2 million shopped in person. You don’t need me to describe the impact of Black Friday on our Environment, but here goes.
No wonder that the week surrounding Black Friday in the U.S. generates about 25% more waste than usual, amounting to around 1 million tons of additional plastic packaging, discarded electronics, and gift wrap heading to landfills.
Delivery emissions are a whopping 94% higher during Black Friday. This increase means an extra 1.2 million tons of CO₂, which is the equivalent of taking 3,500 roundtrip flights between Paris and New York.
And all that for an estimated 80% of Black Friday purchases to ultimately end up in landfills. In her article “Black Friday: consumption for consumption’s sake” Ruth Wachsmuth highlights that only 20% of e-waste is properly recycled.
In 2024, Black Friday sales are anticipated to reach an impressive $10.8 billion.
This represents a significant 9.9% growth over last year’s sales, reflecting continued consumer enthusiasm and increased retail spending during this shopping period.
Meanwhile, Cyber Monday sales in 2024 are expected to reach $13.2 billion, reflecting a 6.1% increase from last year. This makes it likely to be the biggest shopping day of the season, driven by strong consumer interest in online deals and holiday discounts.
While shoppers chase deals, our environment is paying a hefty price. The environmental impact of Black Friday extends far beyond the visible chaos in stores and on websites. It touches every aspect of our ecosystem, from air quality to landfill capacity.
What are the Alternatives?
We are seeing a shift towards more sustainable practices as many brands are taking innovative approaches to combat overconsumption and promote eco-friendly alternatives.
As a result, several alternatives have emerged worldwide, offering more sustainable and mindful approaches to holiday shopping.
- Green Friday encourages eco-friendly shopping practices and supports sustainable brands. Many companies now offer recycled or upcycled products, plant trees for each purchase, or donate some of their profits to environmental causes.
- Giving Tuesday occurs on the Tuesday following Black Friday, and Giving Tuesday focuses on charitable donations and community support. In 2022, this initiative reportedly raised over £1.3 billion in donations globally.
- Buy Nothing Day originated as a direct protest against Black Friday, and where it encourages people to abstain from purchasing for 24 hours. Started in Canada, this event has spread globally and encourages people to avoid shopping entirely. The movement has gained traction, with over 65 countries now participating.
- Small Business Saturday is an initiative that supports local and small businesses. It helps boost local economies and supports community-based entrepreneurs, offering a more personal shopping experience.
- White Monday is a Swedish initiative focusing on circular economy principles. It encourages businesses to adopt sustainable practices and consumers to make environmentally conscious choices.
- Make Something Day is another alternative which encourages creativity and DIY projects instead of shopping. It’s gaining popularity in Scandinavian countries and parts of North America.
- Take Back Day initiative focuses on recycling and sustainability, with plans to recycle 1 million items in 2024. Consumers are encouraged to return old or unwanted items for recycling or refurbishment, promoting a circular economy.
These alternatives offer diverse approaches to counter Black Friday’s consumerism, from abstaining from purchases to supporting ethical businesses and charitable causes.