The current consumption system that big brands have managed to implement is based on compulsive purchasing, often without responding to real needs. Effective marketing techniques They have turned shopping into a mindless exerciseoften based on simple whims, thanks to the implementation of a ‘culture of consumerism’ that turns people into simple shopping machines. The culmination of this spiral of waste, which causes serious environmental effects, came years ago with the Black Friday and its Internet sequel, Cyber Monday. Why are they like this? These two dates are harmful to the planet?
The excessive consumption that develops these days causes a spike waste of raw materials, non-renewable resources, drinking water and energy. These days there is an overproduction of articles of all kinds, which exceeds the already unsustainable usual pace of exploitation of nature.
During these two days there is a high waste of raw materials, non-renewable resources, drinking water and energy.
Single-use packaging, which is what we try to avoid at all costs, has its big annual celebration on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as the amount of packaging multiplies exponentially. wrappers and packaging, often plasticwhich after a fleeting use are discarded and end up in landfills, incinerators or simply thrown into nature.
But it’s not just this. Behind every item of clothing, electronic device, toy or bottle of perfume we buy there are many greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, whether we buy it in a shop in our city or via the internet.
Black Friday stimulates compulsive shopping /Agencies
It must be taken into account that it is during the so-called “last mile” (the distribution of parcels to homes or shops) that the greatest quantity of emissions is generated, due road transport. As if this were not enough, couriers now offer the “24 hour” mode to receive products the next day, which involves more intensive transportation.
The situation was also aggravated by free returns online, since, according to several studies, one product in three is returned, thus increasing emissions caused by transport.
According to 2019 data, they distributed that year 3.5 million parcels throughout Spainwhich multiplies the usual volume during the year by more than three.
And, given that the transport of goods also takes place by plane, in this case the emissions and carbon footprint of each purchase increase even more compared to those that required road transport.
“Brands have taken over our lives and we have gone from humans to consumers”
“The shocking images of the increasingly frequent crowding in shopping centers around the world during Black Friday are alarms that should make us understand how Brands have taken over our lives and we have gone from humans to consumers. Our material possessions should not define our identity or our worth, despite what the latest TV commercial or influencer
Excessive consumption of goods and services is leading us towards extinction because it aggravates the climate and natural crisis”, says Celia Ojeda, head of the Biodiversity area at Greenpeace.
Banner against compulsive shopping /Greenpeace
This organization remembers some key points of Black Friday on Cyber Monday:
· fast fashion. Fast fashion is a danger to the planet. According to UN data, 7,500 liters of water are needed just to produce one pair of jeans, the equivalent of the water a person drinks for seven years. Fast fashion’s water consumption amounts to almost 8 million cubic meters per year and is responsible for 20% of industrial water pollution.
· Since 2000 Clothing production doubled while its use decreased by 36%. It is estimated that more than half of fast fashion produced is thrown away in less than a year, with 73% ending up incinerated or in landfill. The increasingly widespread use of synthetic fibers means that clothing releases more than half a million tons of microfibres into the ocean every year, equivalent to more than 50 billion plastic bottles. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global emissions.
· Electronic waste. In 2019 alone, 53.6 million tons of e-waste were generated globally and only 17.4% of this was collected and recycled. In Spain, in 2019 alone, 888 million kilos (kilotons) of electronic waste were produced, or 19 kilos per person.
Freight transportation is increasing dramatically these days / The newspaper
· Planned obsolescence. According to the European Environment Bureau (EEB), planned obsolescence and electronic consumerism cost 48 million tonnes of CO2 per year. If the useful life of our electronic devices were extended by just one more year, we could save almost 4 million tonnes of CO2 per year until 2030, the equivalent of removing two million cars from European roads every year.
Useless and harmful excesses for the planet
these are the main impacts that occur during these two dates of consumerism:
Excessive consumption: The attractiveness of offers and discounts leads to excessive consumption and the purchase of often useless products. This generates a large amount of waste and an increase in demand for products that require natural resources for their production.
Excess production: To meet Black Friday demand, companies often increase production of goods, which can lead to
Packaging and waste: The large number of products purchased on Black Friday are generally accompanied by a significant amount of packaging, which is often single-use and ends up in landfill or waste, contributing to environmental pollution.
Energy consumption: The increase in online shopping on Black Friday means greater energy consumption to run data centers and meet delivery logistics. This can increase carbon emissions and contribute to climate change.
Transport: Black Friday generates an increase in vehicle circulation, both for shopping in physical stores and for delivering products purchased online. This leads to increased traffic congestion and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
What to do to fight Black Friday and Cyber Monday consumerism?
Resisting the ‘hooks’ that big brands launch through discounts and other offers is easy by simply asking yourself the following question: Do I really need to buy it? In most cases, we will catch ourselves saying “no.” And we will also discover many times that not even the discount they give us justifies that purchase.
In any case, if we need to purchase, most of the time it is possible to do so via the local trade or small businesswhich tend to have more sustainable practices. Additionally, we need to choose quality products that last longer instead of hoarding cheap items.
In the case of clothing, it is necessary escape from the “buy-flip-buy-flip” spiral imposed by the big brands to become simple parts of your business. Clothes need to last and it’s not fair that we only wear trousers four or five times before abandoning them in the closet or throwing them in the bin.
With every purchase we do our part to help or destroy the planet. For each type of product there is a more sustainable versionjust look for them a bit: they can often be found in the corner shop.
How can consumers reduce their carbon footprint during peak shopping seasons?
Rculation for deliveries, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. The combination of road and air transport for delivering products exacerbates the carbon footprint associated with these shopping events.
while Black Friday and similar shopping events offer consumers attractive deals and discounts, they also heavily contribute to environmental degradation through excessive consumption, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and significant waste generation. The cycle of rapid production and consumption, often driven by marketing pressures, challenges sustainable practices and contributes to a deteriorating planet.
Towards a Sustainable Approach
Recognizing the environmental impacts of consumer behavior during these peak shopping days can help consumers make more informed choices. Opting for sustainable products, reducing consumption, and prioritizing the reuse and recycling of items can mitigate some of the negative effects. Additionally, advocating for policies that promote sustainable practices in the retail industry can drive change on a larger scale.
Celia Ojeda’s message from Greenpeace serves as a reminder that individual choices matter. By consciously reducing our consumption, we can take steps towards a more sustainable future and counteract the trend of excessive consumerism.