For some, post-Thanksgiving shopping is when the party really starts.

The History of Black Friday

The starting point of Black Friday is allegedly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the story goes, there was an annual Navy versus Army ball game held after Thanksgiving Day. Whether rejuvenated from the feast the night before or running on pure excitement, the game would cause loads of shoppers and tourists to flood the city. What turned the day black, however, were the shoplifters that would take advantage of the overworked and short-staffed police officers by making off with products from retail stores. In fact, the police officers were the ones who officially coined the day “Black Friday”.

1961 is when “Black Friday” really caught on in Philly. Merchants and various store owners tried to rebrand the day as a “Big Friday” as a way to lose any negative connotations but were ultimately unsuccessful. It wasn’t until the 1980s that shop owners were able to alter the perception of Black Friday by calling attention to the idea that this was the first day of the year when they were able to turn a profit. The idea caught on and eventually contributed to the national recognition of Black Friday as it exists today.

In actuality, though, Black Friday isn’t the most profitable day. Historical trends show that the day before Christmas is actually the more income-driven day of the year.

From a Single-Day to a Four-Day Bonanza

In the short time from the ’80s to the 2010s, Black Friday has shifted from a single-day event to a whole weekend full of shopping!

In 2018, the average shopper planned to spend more than they did in 2017. Of the money shoppers are spending on Black Friday, over half is being spent online. With rises in our consumption habits, we can expect similar trends to appear in 2019.

Why so much Online Shopping?

With Amazon leading the way, consumers are able to get products in an incredibly short amount of time. Two-day shipping is becoming the average across the board, and people seem to love it. The disappointing news is that two-day shipping is causing more harm than good. Compared to the slower shipping options, two-day shipping leaves a much larger carbon footprint.

This is because businesses have an optimized shipping infrastructure that is disrupted by two-day shipping options. Businesses know how to get out the most product at the smallest cost and they are able to do this really well without the pressure of time constraints in getting packages from point A to point B. Companies simply cannot consolidate two-day shipped items in the way they were able to consolidate slowly shipped packages.

Another noteworthy concern with two-day shipping is in the fuel resources that have to be used. Two-day shipping requires larger trucks and that often translates to diesel. Diesel is refined from crude oil and is responsible for the production of a variety of harmful emissions. Diesel fueled vehicles are actually a major source of harmful pollution! It was estimated in 2018 by the United States Department of Energy Information Administration that the diesel fuel consumption of the transportation sector was responsible for emitting 461 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – a top greenhouse gas.

So no Online Shopping?

Well... online shopping isn’t always bad.

There’s a study through MIT that showed online shopping as having a lower carbon footprint compared to shopping in physical stores. The University of California Berkeley narrowed down the MIT’s results by showing that the benefit of online shopping only exists when you opt-out of expedited shipping.

Common Black Friday Goods

In researching for Black Friday, I found out that the most commonly purchased items (especially during Cyber Monday) were electronics. Electronics are amazing and they’re honestly only getting cooler. With fancy televisions and new phones coming out frequently, it can be hard to keep up. With all our purchasing of new goods, we’re forgetting to properly dispose of the old!

Only 20% of our electronic waste is being recycled, and there’s a lot of components in our electronics that can be recycled! It’s estimated that up to 80% of a cellphone can be recycled. When we choose to opt-out of recycling our e-waste, we’re sending it to the landfill instead. Once in landfills, electronic wastes can potentially start to leak toxic waste, like lead and mercury. This waste can work its way into the air, soil, and water – which poses great health risks. In 2013, a study conducted found that children are the ones who really face the impacts of electronic waste toxins. When children come into contact with the chemicals present in the waste, they can develop neurological and cognitive disorders.

To recycle electronics in Knoxville/Knox County, you can take goods to the University of Tennessee, Best Buy, Knox County drop-off centers (Dutchtown, Halls, Karns, and John Sevier locations only), and E-Cycle of Knoxville. For a full list of where to take recyclables, check out our printable list here.

But I don’t want to skip Black Friday

And you don’t have to!

There are many households that spend the night of or day after Thanksgiving shopping to their heart’s content. We would never advocate on giving up traditions. But if you’re interested in creating a more sustainable means of prepping for the winter holidays, there are some neat options:

1) Gift experiences! Rather than buying toys or goods someone will use for a little while, buy experiences they can share with you or another loved one. Some solid options are tickets to concerts or movies, passes to amusement parks or the zoo, or even weekend getaway trips. For some suggestions on experiences, check out here and here.

2) Used, upcycled, or recycled products instead! By purchasing recycled or used products, we’re creating a market for them, which allows for their continued creation. Traditionally speaking, these items are also at a lower cost so you can practice a new sustainable hack while also saving money.

3) Bundle your shipping! The more you can get from one location, the better. Bonus points if you have time to skip the expedited shipping and wait it out instead.

4) Seek out sustainable retailers! For some suggestions on sustainable clothing brands, check out this.

The winter months bring a slew of holidays that focus on gratitude and celebrations. We never want to advocate that anyone stop buying their loved ones all of the fun things they desire. Instead, we want to focus on giving information so that everyone has a chance to fully assess their options and impact.

If you’re interested in changing it up this Black Friday, take a line from REI’s nationwide campaign to OptOutside this year! Check it out here. While there is no official event in Knoxville, there are plenty of ways we could #OptOutside right here in Knoxville.

Turkey Day Part II