Photo by Amy Shamblen on unsplash

Overheating in the overcrowded mall while wearing your puffy jacket, being pushed around by customers that seem to forget basic human decency, legs aching from walking all day, and you hear the same Christmas music on repeat. Your mom told you to pick her up some of that lotion she’s running out of, but all you can hear in your head is “jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bell rock”. Every year you’re reminded of what a nightmare Black Friday is, but yet, you seem to be in the same position every. single. time. Weeks before this though, your email inbox is flooded with,

30% off now only until November 27.

HURRY! Sales end Tuesday!

Get excited… OUR ANNUAL SALE IS COMING UP! ONCE A YEAR ONLY! GET THOSE PANTS YOU’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL YEAR!

Before you can even think, you’re swiping your card because all you can think about is that this only happens once a year. For only once a year, these limited-edition half-cute candles are slightly more affordable.

We’ve all been there and this issue affects millions of people across North America. As horrible as the situation above sounds, the sustainability impact is devastatingly worse. What once was simply getting a good deal is now a painstaking environmental issue. According to Green Alliance, 80% of items purchased on Black Friday end up as waste the following year. They end up in landfill, incinerated, or go through low-quality recycling. Many of those items will be used once before tossed to the bin. 

This, of course, is not entirely the consumer’s fault. A report was made based on Phil Purnell — Professor of Materials and Structures — and Dr. Anne Velenturf — Research Impact Fellow in Circular Economy. It found that great amounts of resources are being lost to the economy. Mass production of goods made of cheap materials are made to accommodate the discounted prices. The country’s current system is not set up to be circular despite the government’s resources and waste strategy to “preserve our stock of material resources by minimizing waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a circular economy.” The overconsumption of low-quality goods causes overwhelming amounts of waste.

A circular economic system—where long-lasting repairable products are the norm and resources are maintained, reused or recycled back into high quality uses—is the way to avoid such unnecessary waste.

Professor Phil Purnell, Dr. Anne Velenturf

Here are some ways to prevent overconsumption on Black Friday:

  1. Organize a list of what you need and what you want. Don’t forget to include pre-planned gifts for loved ones.
  2. Find what you can purchase online to avoid the rush and pressure of in-store shopping.
  3. Set a price limit on how much you plan to spend.
  4. Make a pros and cons list. Consider why you like it, if you have something similar, and if you would still want it if there wasn’t the price reduction.
  5. Before purchasing an item, wait on it for a day. After 24 hours, if you decide it’s worth purchasing, then go for it. 

Please consider these tips before buying. Black Friday is still a great opportunity to save money, but only when done responsibly. Consider the impact financially and environmentally this weekend. 

Sources

“Black Friday and Sustainability: The Huge Sales That Are Costing the Planet.” Sustainability for All, http://www.activesustainability.com/sustainable-life/black-friday-sustainable/.

George, Sarah. “Black Friday: Could 2022 Finally Be the Year That Sustainability Trumps Overconsumption?” Edie, Edie, 23 Nov. 2022, http://www.edie.net/black-friday-could-2022-finally-be-the-year-that-sustainability-trumps-overconsumption/.

staff, Science X. “Most Black Friday Purchases Soon End up as Waste.” Phys.org, Phys.org, 29 Nov. 2019, phys.org/news/2019-11-black-friday.html.