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We know how tempting Black Friday deals are. Half-price tech deals. That dress you’ve always wanted with a fantastic deal. And even discounts on things you didn’t even think you’d ever need.
But the impact Black Friday has on the environment is shocking. And each year, we’re contributing to its carbon footprint thanks to overconsumption.
In 2022, an estimated 900,000 extra parcels were sent out over Black Friday weekend. And it is likely we’ll see the same levels in 2023.
The environmental cost of transport
According to reports, Black Friday online sales add approximately an extra 386,243 tonnes of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year.
But this is only considering the environmental impact of shipping these goods.
There is another way that Black Friday is contributing extra CO2 emissions and that is through packaging.
Using the Reuseabox Environmental Impact Tool that demonstrates that reusing cardboard boxes is better for the environment than recycling, we looked at the impact Black Friday sales and their parcels could have on the planet in 2023.
The environmental cost of packaging
Based on the weight, spec and distance travelled of an average e-commerce shipping box, if 900,000 boxes* are newly manufactured and shipped for Black Friday sales in 2023, this would have the following environmental impact:
On top of that, 4,600 trees would need to be cut down to make the new boxes.
*Based on data provided by Collect Plus from 2022 Black Friday Sales.
So, what can we do?
While both companies and shoppers are becoming more aware of their carbon footprint, it is unlikely to stop people purchasing those deals over Black Friday weekend.
E-commerce businesses need to look into additional measures to reduce their carbon footprint whether that is opting for couriers using electric or hybrid vehicles, offsetting their shipping method (Shopify has some great tips on how to do this) and even considering using second-hand cardboard boxes instead of opting for newly manufactured ones.
Consumers need to consider carefully what they are purchasing over Black Friday weekend and if it is a necessary purchase or even a good deal. Choose brands that value sustainability and consider shopping locally to reduce emissions caused by shipping and packaging.
The World Counts reports that if everyone lived like the average American consumer, we would need 5.2 planets to support us. But we are barely able to protect the one planet that we have.
And this urgently needs changing.
But cardboard will be recycled… isn’t that a good thing?
Cardboard is one of the most commonly recycled materials. According to DEFRA’s UK Statistics on Waste, over 70% of paper and cardboard was recovered and recycled in 2021.
But what most people don’t realise is that cardboard can’t be recycled infinitely. The more it’s recycled, the more the fibres are stretched, which affects the quality of the board.
While most ‘new’ boxes are manufactured using recycled pulp, the quality of this pulp varies. To counteract this problem, manufacturers often add a proportion of new pulp to strengthen the box. So even when you recycle a box, it’s likely that more trees will need to be cut down to turn that box back into another cardboard box.
reuse vs recycling
The most responsible way to use a cardboard box is to reuse it as many times as possible before it’s recycled. Boxes can easily be unfolded and stored flat pack when not in use, ready to reuse at a later date.
By reusing a cardboard box just once you reduce your environmental impact and save trees, carbon, water and energy.
Every Tonne of Cardboard Diverted To Reuse Saves...
5
trees
0.7
tonnes of carbon
4,315
KWH of energy
148,352
litres of water
We know how tempting Black Friday deals are. Half-price tech deals. That dress you’ve always wanted with a fantastic deal. And even discounts on things you didn’t even think you’d ever need.
But the impact Black Friday has on the environment is shocking. And each year, we’re contributing to its carbon footprint thanks to overconsumption.
In 2022, an estimated 900,000 extra parcels were sent out over Black Friday weekend. And it is likely we’ll see the same levels in 2023.
The environmental cost of transport
According to reports, Black Friday online sales add approximately an extra 386,243 tonnes of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year.
But this is only considering the environmental impact of shipping these goods.
There is another way that Black Friday is contributing extra CO2 emissions and that is through packaging.
Using the Reuseabox Environmental Impact Tool that demonstrates that reusing cardboard boxes is better for the environment than recycling, we looked at the impact Black Friday sales and their parcels could have on the planet in 2023.
The environmental cost of packaging
Based on the weight, spec and distance travelled of an average e-commerce shipping box, if 900,000 boxes* are newly manufactured and shipped for Black Friday sales in 2023, this would have the following environmental impact:
On top of that, 4,600 trees would need to be cut down to make the new boxes.
*Based on data provided by Collect Plus from 2022 Black Friday Sales.
So, what can we do?
While both companies and shoppers are becoming more aware of their carbon footprint, it is unlikely to stop people purchasing those deals over Black Friday weekend.
E-commerce businesses need to look into additional measures to reduce their carbon footprint whether that is opting for couriers using electric or hybrid vehicles, offsetting their shipping method (Shopify has some great tips on how to do this) and even considering using second-hand cardboard boxes instead of opting for newly manufactured ones.
Consumers need to consider carefully what they are purchasing over Black Friday weekend and if it is a necessary purchase or even a good deal. Choose brands that value sustainability and consider shopping locally to reduce emissions caused by shipping and packaging.
The World Counts reports that if everyone lived like the average American consumer, we would need 5.2 planets to support us. But we are barely able to protect the one planet that we have.
And this urgently needs changing.
But cardboard will be recycled… isn’t that a good thing?
Cardboard is one of the most commonly recycled materials. According to DEFRA’s UK Statistics on Waste, over 70% of paper and cardboard was recovered and recycled in 2021.
But what most people don’t realise is that cardboard can’t be recycled infinitely. The more it’s recycled, the more the fibres are stretched, which affects the quality of the board.
While most ‘new’ boxes are manufactured using recycled pulp, the quality of this pulp varies. To counteract this problem, manufacturers often add a proportion of new pulp to strengthen the box. So even when you recycle a box, it’s likely that more trees will need to be cut down to turn that box back into another cardboard box.
reuse vs recycling
The most responsible way to use a cardboard box is to reuse it as many times as possible before it’s recycled. Boxes can easily be unfolded and stored flat pack when not in use, ready to reuse at a later date.
By reusing a cardboard box just once you reduce your environmental impact and save trees, carbon, water and energy.
Every Tonne of Cardboard Diverted To Reuse Saves...
148,352
litres of water
0.7
tonnes of carbon
4,315
KwH of energy
148,352
litres of water
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