France plans ban on ‘anti-ecological’ Black Friday
Black Friday could be banned in France on the grounds that it is bad for the planet, promotes “overconsumption” and flouts strict rules on sales periods.
Elisabeth Borne, the country’s Ecological Transition Minister, appeared to back the idea this week, warning against “frenzied consumerism” linked to the sales weekend and its negative impact on the environment.
MPs this week agreed to add the proposed ban to an “anti-waste” bill that will be debated in Parliament early next month.
The amendment was tabled by Delphine Batho, France’s former environment minister and a Green MP, in the name of cracking down on “over-consumption”. She and other environmentally-minded MPs want
Black Friday advertising to be considered “aggressive commercial practices”. Under current French law these are punishable by a maximum sentence of two years in prison and
a300,000 ($513,775) fine. “Black Friday celebrates a model of consumption that is anti-ecological and anti-social,” said MP Matthieu Orphelin, a former member of En
Marche, the party of President Emmanuel Macron.
Environmental activists, including Extinction Rebellion, and anticapitalist groups have pledged to launch a “Block Friday” operation to disrupt online sales, which has not been banned.
The trade council of France, an umbrella group, said it “regretted” suggestions that Black Friday was devoted to consumerism and incited people to buy products they did not need.
“Using the word frenzy gives the impression that consumers are not committed and responsible citizens,” it said.
Each year Black Friday follows Thanksgiving in the United States and has been adopted as a shopping event around the world.