The day after Thanksgiving, often referred to as Black Friday, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. As a kid, I remember people lining up outside Best Buy at 4am trying to be the first in the door for a deeply discounted TV. These days, a lot of Black Friday shopping takes place online. Even Cyber Monday has been added to the yearly line up of shopping days to focus on sites like Amazon.
As we think about the environment and the impact that it has on the health of all of our family members (human and pet alike), I think today is a great day to talk about how our shopping choices affect our environment and what we can do differently!
There are reports showing that the retail industry is responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions annually. CO2 emissions are a large driver of climate change- the more CO2 there is in our atmosphere, the warmer our planet gets since it naturally absorbs heat and reflects it back onto the earth. It's possible that as much as 80% of the items purchased on Black Friday will end up in a landfill, along with all of the plastic packaging they come in. Overall, waste volume increases by 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
So, as you go about your holiday shopping this year, take a minute to reflect on some of the ways that you can practice sustainable shopping:
- Shopping local is a big one! The item you're purchasing was likely made locally and doesn't have to be delivered to you from a factory, cutting down on shipping emissions. The item will probably be higher quality as well so it won't end up in a landfill as quickly!
- Be aware of what brands you're purchasing from. Some brands are more sustainable than others. Again, investing in quality, long-lasting products made from ethically sourced materials are much better for the planet.
There's no shame in shopping and getting gifts for people important to you, or even yourself! This is just a reminder to be intentional and mindful of how you're doing it. Thinking about the impact of our actions and making small individual changes can help our society change as a whole.
What ways do you practice sustainable shopping? Do you know of any good sustainable brands?
References:
Climate change: atmospheric carbon dioxide | NOAA Climate.gov
Most Black Friday purchases soon end up as waste
Green Friday - The Ethical Alternative to Black Friday (2025)
------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------