Half of UK Adults Link Black Friday to Landfill Waste
Rising Concern Over Black Friday’s Impact
A recent poll reveals that 70% of UK adults feel Black Friday encourages excessive purchasing, with half also recognising it as a contributor to landfill waste. Though the shopping event originated in the U.S., it now drives approximately £3 billion in UK spending each year, often resulting in impulse buys that contribute to environmental waste.
Environmental and Carbon Costs
According to the YouGov poll for Keep Britain Tidy, 54% of adults in the UK have shopped during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but 42% see these purchases as environmentally damaging. In 2020, Black Friday deliveries in the UK alone created an estimated 429,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, underscoring the environmental costs of quick-shipping consumer goods.
“Buy Nothing New Month” Initiative
To counteract the high impact of Black Friday, Keep Britain Tidy has launched Buy Nothing New Month this November, encouraging consumers to pause and rethink purchasing decisions. The campaign also aligns with the charity’s newly updated waste hierarchy, offering fresh guidance on reducing waste by choosing more sustainable consumption practices.
Encouraging Reuse and Repair
Further research from Keep Britain Tidy reveals that 58% of Black Friday shoppers in the UK financed their purchases on credit, with 14% using flexible payments and 6% opting for store credit. Of those surveyed, 8% admitted they didn’t truly need the items. Additionally, 63% of respondents support campaigns like Buy Nothing New Month, which promotes alternative options like reusing, repairing, or purchasing secondhand items.
“People are starting to realise that the current level of consumerism isn’t sustainable for the environment or their finances. These findings show the growing support for challenges like ‘buy nothing new,’ which can make a meaningful difference for our planet,” a spokesperson from Keep Britain Tidy commented.
By inspiring shifts toward sustainable habits, campaigns like Buy Nothing New Month have the potential to reduce waste and lessen the environmental impact of shopping events like Black Friday.