The Real Cost of Black Friday

It’s that time of year again: Black Friday. Originating in the US, Black Friday weekend has gone from a two day sale to a frenzied month-long barrage of ‘buy more, more, MORE!’, with marketers pulling every trick in the book to make that sale. Sadly though, our planet is paying the price. And with the release of Netflix’s ‘Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy’, it seems we’re not the only ones questioning if we should be calling time on it all.

So what is the real cost of Black Friday, and how can we turn the tide for the sake of our planet?

Overconsumption - do we really need to buy more this Black Friday?

Netflix hit the nail on the head in addressing the problem with Black Friday:  

“Buying this stuff feels great, right? The problem is, every year we’re consuming more, producing more - and there’s a flip side to that, that no-one wants you to see.”

Because we get it. Shopping feels good, and grabbing a bargain feels great. But do we really need it all? And what exactly aren’t they telling us about the deals we see all around us this time if year?

Overconsumption. 

We’re buying more. Spending more. Demanding more. And this means that more and more is being produced to keep up. It’s estimated that this year, the average UK shopper is set to spend around £313 on Black Friday deals, with 69% of that being on gifts for others (source). 

But massive sprees like this lead to overproduction; most of the extra items that get made as a result of Black Friday overconsumption won’t get sold. Add to that the fact that around 80% of what we do buy ultimately ends up being thrown away (going to landfill, incinerators, or being poorly recycled)… we’ve got a problem. A pretty big one, too.

Black Friday Waste 

We’re living in a throw-away culture. In the time between Black Friday and New Year, the average UK household throws away 25% more rubbish than at any other time of year. And around 80% of what we buy during Black Friday is thrown away, including packaging. Only 29% of electrical waste is recycled during this time, with 1.4 million tonnes being sent to landfill instead (source). 

The sheer waste of excessive spending is mind boggling!

Is it because we don’t see the value in what we’re buying?  Our ‘bargains’ are either cheaply made, inefficient, or just not what we want or need. But the stuff we bought was cheap. So it doesn’t matter, right?

Wrong.

Black Friday waste has to end. 

Carbon Emissions during Black Friday

We’re not only demanding more ‘stuff’ thanks to relentless sales like Black Friday, but we’re demanding it faster too.  Last year’s Next Day Delivery promises saw carbon emissions increase by 94%, with 1.2million tonnes of CO2 being released across Europe as suppliers worked to keep up with demand (source).  

And according to GreenMatch, here in the UK we’re expected to generate even more CO2 this year, with approximately 400,000 tonnes due to be released into the atmosphere. And don’t get us started on packaging! Most orders being shipped will be wrapped excessively, possibly in plastic - and lots of that will end up in landfill too. 

Safe to say, shipping, packaging and excessive manufacturing to keep up with Black Friday demand is crippling our planet. 

Time to turn your back on Black Friday

GreenMatch predict that UK shoppers will spend almost £9 billion this Black Friday. As one expert comments in the Netflix documentary, brands are “constantly developing new ways to get you to buy.”

So how can we make sure that what we buy this year doesn’t add to the climate crisis?

Buy less. Buying only what you need means you cut down on unnecessary waste, reduce pollution and end the cycle of overconsumption. 

Re-use. Consider second-hand purchase and regifting what you no longer need. 

Research brands who use sustainable materials. Support these brands! 

Shop small, and local. Support the smaller brands who care, who are transparent about how they operate. Shopping local helps to reduce your carbon footprint and supports your community too.

Instead of vying for a ‘bargain’, we should be trying to understand what we’re buying, how it’s made and what purpose it will fulfil. We need to understand who is making our products, how, and where they’re being manufactured. What do we know about the brand, how do they conduct their business, do their values align with our own? Are they keeping the promises they make when it comes to protecting us, our planet and our future? We need to understand the impact our shopping has.

We need to invest in brands who truly care, who are making a difference. Because every time we buy from them, we’re making a difference too.

So where does WUKA fit in with this?

💚 One pair of reusable WUKA period pants will replace 200 disposable pads and tampons, cutting down on plastic waste and production pollution. 

💚 One pair of WUKAs will last up to two years, meaning you not only save financially, but you help to reduce demand for plastic-riddled disposable alternatives. 

💚 One pair of WUKAs has a 5x smaller carbon footprint than disposables.

💚One pair of WUKAs can be worn for up to 12 hours without leaks or odours, reducing significant disruption to women and girls’ daily lives, fostering greater inclusion in society.

💚One pair of WUKAs helps you to break the cycle of overconsumption - investing instead in longevity, quality and environmental responsibility.

Shop WUKA this Black Friday 

We don’t support Black Friday, but we do believe in making sustainable periods accessible. So for a limited time, we’re offering discounts on some of our very best sellers, so that more can achieve a truly sustainable period.

Shop now:

• WUKA Everyday Non-Period Pants - 7 Day Sets - 50% off
• WUKA Perform Seamless Period Pants - 7 Pack Cycle Sets - 60% off
• WUKA DryTech™ Incontinence Pants - 5 pack - 50% off
• WUKA Period Swimwear - Up to 50% off