Feature Photo by Ivan Samkov
As the holiday season approaches, businesses are gearing up for the biggest shopping event of the year: Black Friday. This year, it’s happening on November 24th, closely followed by Cyber Monday on November 27th. However, despite the promotions and deals, more people are becoming aware of the environmental and social damage caused by these shopping frenzies. Although some businesses present “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” deals, there is an increasing amount of greenwashing around these sales. The overconsumption encouraged during this time can never truly be sustainable. Therefore, it’s important we take a step back and consider the impact of Black Friday. I hope this article helps you in doing just that!
WHAT IS BLACK FRIDAY?
Many people speculate that the term “Black” in Black Friday is linked to “showing a profit; not showing any losses.” However, the true origin of the term dates back to the 1960s in Philadelphia. Traffic police officers coined it to describe the bustling crowds that would flood the stores on the Friday following Thanksgiving to start their Christmas shopping. The term stuck and has since been adopted by retailers who leverage the occasion to offer exclusive deals and discounts.
what is cyber monday?
The term “Cyber Monday” was coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation (NRF) to describe the phenomenon of increased online shopping on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It was a way for online retailers to compete with the traditional brick-and-mortar stores that have Black Friday sales. Cyber Monday has since become a significant day for e-commerce, with many online retailers offering special promotions, discounts, and deals on a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, home goods, and more.
Shoppers often use the internet to browse for Cyber Monday deals, and many retailers promote their discounts and sales well in advance, making it a popular day for online shopping and bargain hunting.
What once started as an unofficial American holiday has now spread across the globe, both in-store and online.
During Black Friday and its online counterpart, Cyber Monday, the goal for retailers is to attract consumers with unmissable offers and entice them to fill their carts with even more unnecessary items. That way, what was once a one-day shopping event has now evolved into a season of savings with offers and discounts starting as early as October. Hence, a season of unnecessary items being bought just to end up in landfills shortly after.
THE ISSUE WITH BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY
From fuelling the climate crisis to making more waste (plastic or not) than we actually need, there are a lot of issues with both Black Friday & Cyber Monday.
From fuelling the climate crisis to making more waste (plastic or not) than we actually need, there are a lot of issues with both Black Friday & Cyber Monday.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are infamous for promoting consumerism and encouraging people to spend their money on cheap, unsustainable goods. This has led to a significant increase in global consumer spending, which in turn has caused an increase in manufacturing, shipping, and waste generation. As a result, the carbon footprint of Black Friday has grown exponentially. In the UK alone, it was predicted that Black Friday 2021 would emit the same carbon emissions as 3,679 blue whales. This is due to the high number of transactions made, which results in more emissions, waste, and trucks being dispatched to meet the demand.
The environmental impact of Black Friday doesn’t stop at the point of purchase. Overconsumption is encouraged, leading to the purchase of unnecessary and unwanted items made from poor-quality, unsustainable materials. Studies have shown that up to 80% of Black Friday purchases are thrown away after only one or even zero uses, further contributing to the waste problem.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Black Friday’s social impact is also a cause for concern. Production at a large scale often involves outsourcing labour to countries where brands can pay pennies, depriving workers of a living wage and safe working conditions. The extra profit generated by the sale of even cheaper goods during Black Friday doesn’t benefit the workers who produce the goods. Furthermore, the workers who package, ship, and deliver the products are often under a lot of stress and work long hours to meet deadlines. Amazon workers in 30 countries have even threatened to go on strike during Black Friday to demand better pay and working conditions.
Unfortunately, Amazon is widely known to be running their staff under stressful conditions around this time of the year. Last year, the company, which is mainly responsible for the rise of Black Friday in the UK back in 2010, witnessed strikes, protests, and solidarity actions across Amazon’s transcontinental supply chain, with workers in multiple countries striking simultaneously for the first time.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Black Friday plays on the idea that our value as individuals is based on the commodities we own, which is a harmful belief in a capitalist world. The deals and discounts are designed to benefit the companies’ balance sheets and CEOs’ wallets, rather than the consumers. It’s important to consider the negative environmental and social implications of Black Friday and make more mindful purchasing decisions.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that, for some, this day presents an opportunity to purchase necessary items they might not otherwise be able to afford. Criticising Black Friday shoppers for their actions may not be the answer to this normalised holiday. To alleviate the issue, we first need to reflect on our own consumption habits and whether we truly need to participate in Black Friday, rather than scrutinising others’ purchases.
Here, I’ve put together a few tips on what you can do this Black Friday instead of getting involved in the crazy purchase frenzy.
Support small businesses
Instead of shopping at big-box stores, consider supporting small businesses in your community. This not only helps to stimulate the local economy, but also allows you to find unique and one-of-a-kind gifts that you won’t find at the mall.
Give the gift of experiences
Instead of buying physical gifts, consider giving the gift of experiences, such as concert tickets, spa treatments, or cooking classes. Not only does this help to reduce waste, but it also creates lasting memories that your loved ones will cherish.
Shop with purpose
If you do decide to shop for physical gifts, consider shopping with purpose. Look for brands that prioritise sustainability, fair labour practices, and ethical sourcing. Do your research and find brands that align with your values.
Donate to charity
Another great way to give back during the holiday season is to donate to charity. Consider donating to a local food bank, homeless shelter, or animal rescue organisation. You can also consider giving a donation in someone’s name as a gift.
Join the Buy Nothing Day movement
Since 1997, Buy Nothing Day has coincided with Black Friday. This event provides a 24-hour break from consumerism, allowing individuals to reflect on the environmental impact of their shopping habits.
Practice mindful consumption
It’s important to practice mindful consumption year-round. This means being intentional about the things we buy and considering the impact of our purchases on the environment and the people involved in the production process. By making conscious choices about what we buy and where we shop, we can help to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Take part in your favourite brand’s campaigns
For a couple of years now, there’s been a lot of noise around the anti-Black Friday campaigns, especially when it comes to fashion brands. On Black Friday 2022, for example, the FREITAG online was closed down, and customers were redirected straight to the brand’s S.W.A.P. bag exchange platform. The brand Ecoalf invited the audience to experience a 3D CGI video which puts into perspective the staggering amount the average person consumes in a lifetime. While ASKET also shut down its website, encouraging its audience to care for, repair, and revive their clothes.
I can’t wait to see what ethical brands will launch this year for their anti-Black Friday campaigns and I can only hope these are just as engaging as some from the past couple of years.
Join the Green Friday Movement
The Green Friday Movement is all about turning off your computer and mobile devices and going outdoors! It also takes place on the same day as Black Friday. By taking part, you can have a great time in nature – take a walk at lunchtime or catch up with friends and family in a park near you. Spending quality time outside can also improve our mental well-being, and it’s also an inexpensive way to have fun!
And finally........
Many eco-conscious companies, charities and other organisations have already started to move away from traditionally commercial Black Friday sales and instead are initiating social action, charity schemes and much more. For more information about the organisations who have joined the Green Friday movement in Europe and the world, check out the Green Friday Movement here.
If you feel inspired to do something, however big or small, in support of this new movement, please spread the word today! You can like this post and share it to your friends on facebook and other social media, or just tell friends about it. Let’s make Black Friday GREEN!