“Black Friday creates an extra 1.5 million tonnes of waste in the UK”
Black Friday spending is expected to hit £3.9 billion this year in the UK, but this shopping spree comes with a hefty environmental price tag, generating an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of waste, says BusinessWaste.co.uk.
It’s estimated that Black Friday creates an extra 1.5 million tonnes of waste in the UK, around half of which is from packaging alone.
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Black Friday creates 700,000 tonnes of cardboard and plastic packaging waste in the UK.
Consumer regret:
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80% of Black Friday purchases get thrown away.
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Research from one consumer survey found that 52% of buyers regret their Black Friday purchases a week later.
Transport:
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Transporting Black Friday goods creates an additional 429,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the same as 435 return flights from London to New York.
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Trucks transporting goods around Europe during Black Friday week release 2 million tonnes of CO2 – a big increase on the average week.
E-waste:
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Only around 29% of the electrical waste created due to Black Friday is recycled.
Consumer attitudes:
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People are aware of the negative environmental impact of Black Friday – a YouGov poll found 42% of people think Black Friday purchases are bad for the environment
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The same poll found that half of people surveyed acknowledge Black Friday contributes to landfill waste
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Research by Keep Britain Tidy claims that 27% of adults in the UK are willing to boycott Black Friday due to concerns about its environmental impact
Mark Hall, packaging waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, comments: “While Black Friday can be a great opportunity for retailers to boost sales and for customers to grab a bargain, it’s impossible to ignore the huge toll on our environment. Additionally, research shows that the majority of people regret their purchases, with many ending up in landfill.
“Businesses must consider how they make the most out of the opportunity Black Friday brings, while also reducing their impact, considering lowering packaging, promoting quality products, and encouraging mindful shopping.
“While some consumers’ attitudes are changing towards the sales period, we have yet to see a real reduction in the waste generated. It’s vital consumers take a step back and consider what purchases they actually need.”
