Beware Black Friday: Consumerism, Worker Exploitation, and Environmental Harm

Black Friday, once just a day to kick off holiday shopping, has evolved into a global phenomenon of massive sales, frenzied spending, and record-breaking profits for corporations. But beneath the allure of door-buster deals lies a complex web of wealth inequality, labor exploitation, and environmental damage. This annual shopping spree is more than a rush for discounts—it reflects systemic issues in our economy and society.

The Pressure to Buy More

Retailers carefully orchestrate Black Friday sales to create a sense of urgency. Promotions like “limited-time offers” or “flash sales” are designed to trigger FOMO (fear of missing out), leading consumers to purchase items they often don’t need. According to a 2022 survey by the National Retail Federation, Americans spent over $9.12 billion online on Black Friday, a 2.3% increase from the previous year. Despite rising living costs, this cycle of compulsive consumption continues, fueled by psychological manipulation and relentless marketing.

This system benefits large corporations disproportionately. For instance, Amazon’s Black Friday sales accounted for 17% of total U.S. online shopping in 2022, reinforcing its dominance in retail. However, while corporations and shareholders celebrate record profits, consumers often feel trapped in debt. Total U.S. consumer credit card debt exceeded $1 trillion in 2023, a stark reminder of the financial strain induced by events like Black Friday.

The Hidden Cost of Low-Wage Workers

The people enabling these shopping extravaganzas—warehouse employees, retail workers, and delivery drivers—often face the most significant exploitation. Many of these jobs are low-wage, part-time, and seasonal, offering little stability.

• Retail workers earn a median hourly wage of just $16.19, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023).

• In Amazon warehouses, workers are pushed to their limits, with fulfillment centers reporting injury rates nearly twice the industry average.

On Black Friday, the situation worsens. Retail employees are forced to work long hours, often on Thanksgiving, sacrificing time with family. Meanwhile, the CEOs of major retailers see their earnings skyrocket.

For example, in 2022, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon earned $25.7 million, while the company’s median worker pay was just $27,136—a CEO-to-worker pay ratio of 933:1.

This stark disparity highlights a broader trend: while worker productivity has increased by 61.8% since 1979, wages have grown by only 17.5%, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Black Friday encapsulates this imbalance, as the wealthiest continue profiting from the labor and spending of those struggling to make ends meet.

The Big Winners: Corporations and Shareholders

Major corporations like Walmart, Amazon, and Target dominate Black Friday, consolidating their power over the retail market. In 2023 alone, Amazon’s global Black Friday sales surpassed $10 billion, bolstering the wealth of its largest shareholders, including founder Jeff Bezos.

• Bezos’s net worth grew by $14 billion during the 2023 holiday season, underscoring the widening wealth gap.

• Meanwhile, the bottom 50% of U.S. households control just 1% of the nation’s wealth, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2023 data.

Black Friday serves as a microcosm of this inequality. Consumers spend billions to fuel corporate profits, while low-wage workers and underpaid suppliers see little to no benefit.

Environmental Impact: The Cost of Overproduction

Black Friday’s environmental consequences are staggering. The demand for fast, cheap goods drives overproduction, resulting in waste, pollution, and resource depletion. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 12 million tons of furniture and clothing are discarded annually in the U.S., much purchased during sales events like Black Friday.

The transportation of goods contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, in 2022, global shipping for Black Friday orders generated an estimated 6 million tons of CO₂, equivalent to the annual emissions of 1.2 million cars.

The problem is compounded by the “planned obsolescence” of many products, particularly electronics. Items like smartphones and TVs are replaced frequently due to new models and sales, leading to an e-waste crisis. The Global E-Waste Monitor reported that 57.4 million metric tons of electronic waste were discarded worldwide in 2021, with less than 20% adequately recycled.

Rethinking Black Friday

Black Friday exposes the cracks in our economic system: unchecked consumerism, wealth concentration, labor exploitation, and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues requires systemic change and individual action.

1. Buy Less, Buy Better: Support local businesses, invest in quality over quantity, and resist the pressure to buy unnecessary items. Adopting sustainable shopping habits can reduce waste and promote ethical consumption.

2. Advocate for Workers: Push for higher wages and better working conditions. Organizations like the Fight for $15 campaign continue to call for a living wage for retail and service workers.

3. Support Environmental Initiatives: Consider the environmental impact of your purchases. Look for brands prioritizing sustainable materials and ethical labor practices.

Black Friday should no longer be a day of exploitation and excess. Instead, let’s reimagine it as an opportunity to reflect on our values and work toward a fairer, more sustainable future where people and the planet take precedence over profits.