Terrifying/Inspiring Thought of the Week
Today is Black Friday - the most important holiday of the year.
The retail sector generates 25% of the world’s carbon emissions annually, according to Boston Consulting Group — and Black Friday makes its environmental footprint a lot worse.
The amount of waste American households produce between Black Friday and New Year is 25% higher than the rest of the year.
In 2019, a study found that consumers threw away 80% of items purchased on Black Friday after a few uses. Most of these items are destined for landfills, incinerated, or go to low-quality recycling centers.
Black Friday has become a global phenomenon, with an estimated 50-60% of countries celebrating it in some form.
"Black Friday", a.k.a. "Buy Nothing Day".
At least, that's my theory.
I intentionally bought nothing. And then got an email from my credit card company — oh no! My cell phone bill was charged yesterday!
So we are all at the mercy of the machine.
When I step into a mall these days, the consumerism and vast mounds of landfill stuff I see actually makes me sick.