The United States has the world’s second-largest environmental footprint (that’s not a good thing). Here are 5 reasons not to shop Black Friday.

Why The Day After Thanksgiving Is Bad For The Environment

In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported Americans generate 292.4 tonnes of trash and 146.1 tonnes that end up in landfills each year. Considering the high amount of waste and how this seems. to be hand-in-hand with the country’s culture, it’s not surprising that the “biggest sale of the year” will contribute to waste and landfill. Here are The United States has the world’s second-largest environmental footprint (that’s not a good thing). Here are 5 reasons not to shop Black Friday.

1. It Contributes To Waste

In addition to businesses not creating products/offering environmentally beneficial or considerate services, this annual shopping day creates a frenzy by playing on people’s fears and often speaking negatively or dangling the consequences of missing out on buying something would be like. For example, separating someone from being able to relate to their friends, community, or society. Never being able to get the items again, wasting money, and many more fear-based narratives.

Fear-based purchasing leads to buying things that aren’t really needed and that won’t be used. This also leads to higher return rates.

2. It Leads To Higher Return Rates

Return rates are a major issue with current debates and systems ongoing to attempt reduction. In fact, 30-40% of online purchases are returned in the US. When items are returned, a large portion of the products ends up in landfill instead of being reused or resold. In fact, 2.6 million tons of US returns ended up in landfills. For a country that already battles a waste issue, this only contributes to the problem.

Read: 3 Sustainable Shopping Tips If You Can’t Avoid Black Friday

3. It Encourages Pushing Personal Financial Boundaries

For the day mass-promoted as the biggest sale of the year, financial methods such as taking out an extra line of credit, opening a store credit card, or using buy now pay later methods are pushed.

4. It Contributes To Funding Fossil Fuels And organizations That Harm The Planet

Speaking of financial health, the relation of investment/profit/finance, in general, relates to the environment because many organizations invest in fossil fuels or other methods that negatively impact and harm the planet. For example, the fast fashion industry and every single business that does not actively prioritize the environment and sustainability practices.