Black Friday is no ordinary shopping day—it’s a global phenomenon. Traditionally held on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, this highly anticipated day offers massive sales and jaw-dropping discounts. Shoppers flock to stores or log in online to snag deals, often buying far more than they need. However, behind the excitement of slashed prices lies a darker story of waste, consumerism, and hidden consequences.
People shop at a Macy’s store during the Black Friday sales. Loren Elliott | Reuters
The environmental impact of Black Friday has drawn growing criticism over the years. The manufacturing, packaging, transportation, and delivery of millions of products leave behind a staggering carbon footprint. This shopping frenzy exacerbates the climate crisis, increasing pollution and resource depletion. But there’s another side to this story that rarely makes headlines: the human cost of Black Friday. Beyond the glossy sales ads and enticing discounts lies many people exploited – from shoppers to workers – to make those deals possible.
Let’s uncover the hidden human toll behind these bargains:
The Trap: How shoppers are manipulated
Black Week all through Cyber Monday | Getty Images
“Limited products”, “limited deals”, “one day only” – these buzzwords are at the heart of Black Friday’s marketing playbook. By building anticipation and creating a competitive frenzy, retailers set the stage for one of the year’s most chaotic shopping events. On the big day, long lines outside stores and website crashes online intensify the pressure, leaving shoppers caught up in a whirlwind of urgency and the fear of missing out (FOMO).
This engineered chaos doesn’t just excite, it clouds our judgment. We rush to grab deals without properly evaluating prices, quality, or product features. Impulse purchases of not needed goods become the norm. The high-stakes shopping rush may offer a temporary adrenaline boost, but it often leaves consumers drained and regretful.
Deals & Discounts
To make matters worse, research reveals that most Black Friday deals aren’t even as good as they seem. A study by Which?, a UK-based consumer protection organization, found that around 40% of so-called deals were cheaper at other times of the year. Retailers also often dupe shoppers with exaggerated “was” prices, luring us into seemingly unmissable savings. In reality, they are ruthlessly capitalising on our weaknesses to maximise profits.
This manipulation doesn’t just hurt your wallet – it’s a disservice to your time, energy and the environment. Shoppers should feel informed and empowered to make thoughtful, sustainable choices, not pressured into wasteful spending. Your wallet, wardrobe, and the planet will thank you.
Black Friday & Amazon: A perfect storm
Amazon's Black Friday sales
Black Friday and Amazon are as inseparable as thunder and lightning. Alongside record-breaking sales, both have faced sharp criticism for their roles in environmental damage and labour exploitation. Amazon rakes in enormous profits during Black Friday, but at the expense of ethics. The company has a track record of prolific tax avoidance. By shifting profits to tax havens, Amazon denies governments the resources needed to fund vital public services. In the UK alone, this malpractice drains the economy of nearly half a billion pounds every year.
What’s the alternative? Supporting small, independent businesses. When you shop local, your money is more likely to stay within the community, funding public services instead of lining the pockets of billionaires.
Workers’ rights
The race to deliver Black Friday deals often comes at a steep cost to workers. The intense demand can lead to staff being overworked and underpaid. Last year, over 1,000 Amazon workers at a Coventry warehouse went on strike, protesting unfair pay and poor working conditions. With more strikes planned for Black Friday itself, the pressure on employees is under the spotlight.
Garment workers at a Shein production site | Public Eye
