Alternatives to Black Friday Waste
We are all aware the Black Friday creates a huge commercial waste problem, but how much do we understand it and the importance of correct commercial waste disposal? There are three main categories:
- fast fashion,
- electronics, and
- plastics.
These would eventually become business waste, adding to the growing problem. In this article, we will discuss the environmental impact of Black Friday, the alternatives to the sale, and the potential to regulate commercial waste collections.
Let’s start by looking at the types of business waste created during Black Friday. Once you understand these categories, you can decide whether or not to participate in the next Black Friday sale due to the implications of the massive increase in commercial waste. Please click here for more information and pricing on commercial waste.
Black Friday Waste: Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of Black Friday sales and the associated commercial waste is enormous. Consumers buy various goods, from clothes and electronic goods to household appliances and furniture. Most of these items will be discarded after use and subsequently landfilled or incinerated. Approximately 80% of this business waste will be disposed of or recycled using low-quality processes. Despite the huge sales over the Black Friday weekend, much of the waste generated is destined for landfill, incineration or low-quality recycling.
While Black Friday has become a global phenomenon, the impact on the environment is far from overrated. In the United Kingdom, approximately 72,550 delivery vans are on the road during the peak shopping week. Each minute, 33 seconds, an Amazon delivery lorry leaves its warehouse. The additional trips that consumers make to pick up their purchases result in excess packaging, ending up in landfills. Fortunately, consumer awareness of the damage commercial waste and improper commercial waste collections and packaging have on the environment grows. Some clothing brands have gone so far as to refuse to participate in the sale this year and are calling for action.
The most significant impact of Black Friday sales is the enormous amount of waste generated.
Compared to other times of the year, post-Thanksgiving sales are even more expensive. In addition to the vast amount of garbage generated during the shopping spree, Black Friday waste will also contribute to increased carbon emissions. To counteract this impact, consumers should consider shopping in another way to avoid the waste associated with the season. There are plenty of alternatives to Black Friday shopping.
While Black Friday has been around for over a century, the negative connotations of the holiday are catching up to retailers and brands. Like the end-to-end sustainable footwear brand Allbirds, some brands have opted to boycott the event this year. They raised their prices by £1 last year in response to the negative impacts of Black Friday. In addition, businesses can now consider a more circular economy and how their products and services will impact the planet.
To mitigate the negative impact of the season, shoppers can consider shopping online. With many products returning to online retailers, this increase in returns increases the amount of plastic in landfills. The resulting plastic is a massive cause of greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to global warming.
Furthermore, consumers can buy goods with sustainable packaging instead of plastic. They can also opt to shop at online stores rather than brick-and-mortar retail locations. While the environmental impact of Black Friday is a significant concern, the overall shopping experience is a massive win for consumers.
Recycling codes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
PETE |
HDPE |
V |
LDPE |
PP |
|
Polyethylene Terephthalate. |
High Density Polyethylene |
Polyvinyl Chloride |
Low-density Polyethylene |
Polypropylene |
All other plastics |
Black Friday Waste: Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday and Black Friday are projected to generate £10.8 billion in sales and a further £9 billion in 2020.
The spending during these shopping holidays will double the annual total of consumer waste. Increased air pollution and global warming are the inevitable consequences of this trend. By doubling up shopping holidays, the environment will suffer.
Black Friday Waste: Alternatives to Black Friday
Many alternative shopping options exist with thousands of shoppers expected to descend on stores this Black Friday. One such option is shopping online. In addition to the advantages of online shopping, there are many downsides. However, if you’re trying to save money, here are some alternatives to Black Friday waste that will make shopping a breeze.
Black Friday Waste: Sustainable Clothing
One way to cut your waste on Black Friday is to purchase reusable clothing.
This way, you’ll be helping to protect our planet. Buying sustainable companies will help reduce your carbon footprint and promote better environmental practices. These companies are also trying to reduce the amount of plastic in their products. For example, one of the biggest culprits of landfills is fast fashion. According to a recent study, a truckload of textiles is thrown away every second.
Even worse, many of these materials contain microfibers from plastic. Another alternative to Black Friday waste is to buy nothing on that day. By shopping online, you’ll avoid the impulse buying that often happens during this day. While doing so will help reduce your overall waste, you’ll still need packaging for your purchases. Companies can identify recyclable alternatives to their standard packaging by conducting a packaging audit. Besides, you’ll have the opportunity to share this article with your friends and family.
Black Friday Waste: Environmentally Friendly Options
So, how do you find alternative shopping options for Black Friday?
There are some creative counter-proposals to Black Friday. One such counter-proposal is “Buy Nothing Day,” which encourages brands and retailers to stand against the day by not participating in the annual Black Friday sales. Another alternative is a company like Asket, which doesn’t sell on Black Friday. Instead, it uses social media channels to share its environmental mission and encourage followers to buy ethically-made clothing.
A green alternative to Black Friday is the trend being embraced by environmental activists. A movement called Green Friday encourages shoppers to shop ethically and sustainably by promoting purchases at environmentally friendly retailers. By reducing the amount of packaging, this alternative to Black Friday waste is an excellent way for businesses to participate in green shopping. So, what are some of these green alternatives? This article will highlight some of these innovative products and give you some ideas. One company, Deciem, has successfully promoted sustainable consumerism and slow shopping.
This company offers discounts for the entire month of November and encourages shoppers to take their time. They also educate consumers about products, reducing everyday impulse purchases during this time. And as for the other brands, more are making the transition towards sustainability. But the question is, how can we reduce our waste from this massive shopping event?
Black Friday Waste: Regulation of Black Friday
The rise of Black Friday has made regulations for the disposal of waste essential for the environment. During this famous shopping festival, many consumers buy fast fashion items, electronics, and plastics, but they rarely use the items for long before they are discarded. This means that the purchased products would soon be a waste in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of pollution and over-consumption.
Luckily, many people are taking action to reduce the amount of waste they produce by recycling and donating their used goods to charitable organisations. A recent Money 2020 report found that Black Friday sales contributed to 429,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Twenty per cent of consumers surveyed would refuse to pay carbon taxes on deliveries during the holiday. A few plastic-free experts have suggested that consumers keep the packaging until they cannot use it anymore. But it doesn’t stop there. Ultimately, Black Friday waste will be one of the most significant issues of this season.
Regulators and legislators need to address these issues before they become significant issues. The EU must put people and communities at the forefront to change the current system. In particular, workers and trade unions must be the primary source of input, with meaningful engagement and collective bargaining essential. Consumers cannot carry the weight of a dysfunctional system by themselves. Leaders in Europe must rewrite the game’s rules and make businesses abide by them.
By following these rules, consumers will be happier and healthier than ever. The issue of crowd control is another area that must be addressed. Consumers are often overwhelmed on Black Friday and end up purchasing items they might not use at a later date. Many of these purchases are never used and end up being wasted. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the amount of black Friday waste, including giving them away or throwing them in the trash. Ultimately, these policies will help the environment and make shopping safer. The French legislative committee has proposed an amendment that bans Black Friday altogether.
Next month, the National Assembly will debate the amendment. The former environment minister, Delphine Bathot, argued that aggressive marketing efforts to promote compulsive buying were incompatible with the fight against global warming. Elisabeth Borne, the current minister for a green transition, has also criticised the sale on Europe 1 radio. Despite these efforts, the fashion industry produces and distributes unsuitable clothing and accessories at an incredible cost to people and the environment.
Fortunately, cleverly-marketed seasonal markdowns are helping brands reduce their unsold inventory. Yet, only 14 per cent of significant brands publish information on the number of their products. While most major brands have clothing take-back programs and invest in circular solutions, only a tiny percentage invest in sustainable clothing production practices.
Five Alternatives to Black Friday Waste – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
Why Should Your Business Go Paperless?
Choosing a Garage Waste Management Service
Developing an EMS for Hazardous Waste
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