7 popular Black Friday buys packed with plastic and chemicals

Black Friday, Black Week and Christmas shopping make up the busiest time of year for online retailers. Many of the most popular purchases are everyday items for the kitchen, wardrobe and wish list. But several of them contain PFAS, plastic or substances that authorities and researchers are keeping a close eye on. Here are seven popular purchases worth thinking twice about, what the studies actually found, and what you can choose instead. All sources are listed at the bottom of the article.

There's no need to throw away anything you already own. The point is to make more informed choices next time you buy something new.

1. Air fryers with PFAS in the non-stick coating

Why it's popular: The air fryer was the biggest gift hit of Christmas 2023. At Coop.dk and Kvickly it was an outright number one among Christmas gifts, occupying 14 of the 20 spots on the best-selling hardware list [1]. Imerco called it the absolute Christmas gift of the year [2]. In 2024, air fryers accounted for 10% of all corporate Christmas gift choices at Lomax [3]. Since then, interest has fallen sharply: according to PriceRunner, 63% fewer air fryers were sold on Black Friday 2024 compared to two years earlier [6], and searches in 2025 were less than a fifth of 2023 levels [7]. It still sits in a great many kitchens.

What it's about: Forbrugerrådet Tænk Kemi found PFAS in all six air fryers tested from the Danish market in a European test [11]. Tænk also explains that the fluorinated compounds are well bound in the coating and are not released during normal use, because air fryers don't reach around 250°C. The problem is primarily pollution during production and disposal — if you already own an air fryer, there's no need to replace it [12].

What to choose instead: If you do buy new, choose a model where the manufacturer states it is PFAS-free. In Tænk's 2025 test, five models met that standard [13]. A regular oven can handle most of the same tasks. Leftovers are best stored in a container made for the purpose — the Danish Food and Veterinary Administration notes, for example, that reused ice cream tubs are not suitable for hot food [15]. A stainless steel lunch box works well for fridge leftovers, and if you want to take warm food to work, a thermo lunch box will keep it hot.

2. Frying pans and cookware sets with non-stick (PTFE)

Why they're popular: Hybrid frying pans were number 8 on Coop's top 10 Christmas gifts in 2023 [1]. Frying pan sets were the most popular corporate Christmas gift in North Jutland at Lomax in 2024 [3], and Imerco saw strong demand that same year for PFAS-free pans [2].

What it's about: PTFE, also known as Teflon, is a PFAS substance. In a Tænk Kemi survey, 24 out of 83 non-stick pans contained PFAS in the coating. At 250°C or above, these substances can be released, and a label saying "PFOA-free" is no guarantee that the pan is free of all PFAS [14]. The Danish Food and Veterinary Administration states there are no issues at normal frying temperatures, but that a Teflon pan should typically not be heated above 260°C [15].

What to choose instead: Pans in stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel. If you want non-stick, look for labelling that says "PFAS-free", "PFC-free" or "fluorine-free" [14]. To complete a kitchen gift, a stainless steel chopping board set is a great addition. To learn more about the material, read our guide to stainless steel.

3. Blenders and food processors with plastic jugs

Why they're popular: Ninja featured in 6 of the 30 most popular Christmas gifts on PriceRunner in 2024, including the BN750EU and BN800EU blenders [5]. A cordless hand blender set was the most popular corporate Christmas gift in Zealand at Lomax [3], and food processors were number 4 on Coop's Christmas gift list in 2023 [1]. On Black Friday 2025, 28% of shoppers bought home and kitchen goods [25].

What it's about: A laboratory study from 2023 found that the plastic container of a kitchen blender released a significant number of micro- and nanoplastic particles of ABS plastic when blending ice for 30 seconds [16]. A 2024 review on microplastics in the home kitchen cites the blender as an example, noting that the amount released depends on the jug material, speed and settings, as well as how hard, large and cold the ingredients are [17]. The study's senior author explained in Scientific American that ice with sharp edges or hard foods can scrape a lot of plastic from the jug [19].

There are, however, important caveats. The first study used a single blender and does not assess health effects. And the EU food safety authority EFSA concluded in 2025, after reviewing 122 studies, that there is evidence that food contact materials can release microplastics through wear and friction, but that many studies have methodological shortcomings, that actual release is much lower than many publications suggest, and that there is currently no basis for calculating how much we are actually exposed to [18]. In short: plastic jugs may release small plastic particles, especially with ice and hard ingredients. How much we actually ingest, and what it means, researchers do not yet know.

What to choose instead: A blender with a glass or stainless steel jug. If you have one with a plastic jug, avoid blending ice and frozen berries when it's not necessary [16][19]. DR has compiled advice on plastic in food, including choosing steel and glass over plastic for food and drink, and avoiding heating food in plastic [20]. Take your smoothie with you in a stainless steel thermo bottle that keeps it cold.

4. Headphones

Why they're popular: AirPods Pro were Ønskeskyen's "Wish of the Year" in 2024 and number 1 on Danish men's wish lists [8]. In 2025, AirPods Pro still ranked number 3 among men [9][10]. Headphones were also a big hit on PriceRunner at Christmas 2024 [4], and Elgiganten saw a significant surge in demand that year [2].

What it's about: An analysis by the organisations behind ToxFree LIFE for All, published in February 2026, tested 180 samples from 81 pairs of headphones purchased in Central Europe. It found BPA in 98% of samples and BPS in over three quarters, at levels up to 351 mg/kg. The highest finding was in a product from an international online marketplace, but well-known brands were also affected. The authors write that there is no immediate health risk, but that they are concerned about long-term exposure [21]. The study was not conducted on the Danish market, so we have not named specific brands.

What to choose instead: There is no documented model entirely free of these substances. The best advice is to buy from EU retailers rather than the cheapest copies from marketplaces outside the EU. In a Nordic survey of products bought online, 78% of the electronic products checked failed to meet the rules [22].

5. Toys, especially cheap copies of popular figures

Why they're popular: Children's toys featured heavily in Christmas shopping on PriceRunner in 2024 [4]. Collectible figures such as Labubu have been so sought after that a large market for copies has emerged: in 2025, around 9,000 fake Labubu plush toys were seized across the Nordic countries, more than 3,000 of them in Denmark [23].

What it's about: Nordic analyses found organic tin compounds and the phthalate DEHP above EU limit values in the copies, while the original figures tested in Norway did not show the same violations [23]. In a Nordic survey, 87% of electric toy products bought online failed to meet chemicals legislation [22].

What to choose instead: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency recommends buying from official retailers in Denmark or the EU and being cautious of very low prices [23]. If you're looking for a gift for children's mealtimes, stainless steel plates and steel cups can take quite a knock on the floor.

6. Clothing and sportswear made from polyester and other plastic fibres

Why it's popular: Clothing, shoes and accessories was the category most Danes bought on Black Friday 2025 — 53% of shoppers bought something in that category [25]. Before Black Friday, the category also topped Dansk Erhverv's list, with 57% of those planning to shop expecting to hunt for deals on clothes, shoes and accessories [24]. Sports socks became Ønskeskyen's "Wish of the Year" in 2025 [9][10], and in 2024 T-shirts, hoodies and joggers were the top 3 on Danish boys' wish lists [8].

What it's about: Polyester is the world's most produced textile fibre, accounting for 59% of global fibre production in 2024 [26]. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), wearing and washing clothing made from synthetic fibres — that is, plastic — is a recognised source of microplastics. Around 8% of the microplastics Europe releases into the ocean come from synthetic textiles, and globally the share is estimated at 16 to 35% [27]. The European Commission states that the most microplastics are released in the first 5 to 10 washes [28].

A UK study estimated that over 700,000 fibres can be released from an average 6 kg wash of acrylic fabric, while a polyester-cotton blend shed significantly fewer fibres than pure polyester or acrylic [29]. That figure applies to acrylic in the study and not all clothing. Another study found that polyester clothing also sheds fibres into the air when worn, at a similar rate to washing [30]. In Denmark, a report from the Environmental Protection Agency in 2015 estimated that textiles release 200 to 1,000 tonnes of microplastics per year, primarily to treatment plants, with 6 to 60 tonnes ending up in waterways [32]. Treatment plants remove a large proportion, but not all [27].

Outdoor clothing has also frequently been treated with PFAS to repel water and dirt. Denmark has banned PFAS in clothing and footwear for consumers. Imports and sales are prohibited from 1 July 2026, but existing stock may be sold until 1 January 2027 [34].

What to choose instead:

• Check the care label for polyester, polyamide (nylon), acrylic and elastane.
• Choose wool and cotton where it makes sense. Natural fibres also shed fibres, but they are not plastic [27].
• Choose tightly woven fabric over loosely knitted fabric such as fleece where possible. Tightly woven polyester shed the fewest fibres in the study [30].
• Buy fewer, more durable pieces and use them for longer. The first washes release the most [27][28].
• Use a laundry bag or filter. In a UK study, an external filter reduced fibre release into wastewater by around 78% and the Guppyfriend laundry bag by around 54%. The researchers emphasise that clothing also sheds fibres during wear [31].
• Wash at lower temperatures for shorter cycles, using liquid detergent rather than powder [27]. Wash less often, fill the machine, and dry clothes on a line rather than in a tumble dryer [33].
• Choose outdoor clothing labelled PFAS-free or PFC-free [34].

7. Eyelash serums containing prostaglandins

Why it's popular: An eyelash serum was number 2 on Danish women's wish lists at Ønskeskyen in 2025 [9][10], and beauty products and fragrances were also popular in Christmas shopping on PriceRunner in 2024 [4].

What it's about: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency found prostaglandin-like substances in 25% of 58 serum products tested in 2025 [36]. According to the Agency, there have been many reported cases of side effects such as eye irritation and permanent changes to eye colour, and the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety is assessing these substances [35]. We have not examined the ingredients in specific products from wish lists.

What to choose instead: Check the ingredient list for substances containing "prost" in the name, and scan the product in the Kemiluppen app. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency considers serums with peptides to be the better choice for now [35][36].

Should you still shop on Black Friday?

It's not about buying less of everything — it's about choosing things you'll use for a long time. Stainless steel is not entirely without migration. It can release small amounts of metal, particularly with prolonged contact with acidic foods, and limits are set for how much may be released. But it does not wear down into plastic particles. To read more about plastic and food, see our guide to microplastics in food and three news stories about PFAS and plastic in food from 2026.

See all our Black Weeks offers on lunch boxes, thermo bottles and kitchen accessories. Delivery in 5–10 business days. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and our stainless steel products come with a 10-year warranty.

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Sources

1. Coop, press release 11.12.2023: Most popular Christmas gifts of the year
2. DR, 14.12.2024: Last year's Christmas gift hit slips down the list
3. Lomax, 4.12.2024: Denmark's corporate Christmas gifts revealed
4. PriceRunner, 5.12.2024: Christmas 2024: Danes' favourite Christmas gifts
5. Designbase, 17.12.2024, reproducing PriceRunner's lists: The most popular Christmas gifts 2024
6. Ritzau via Nordvestnyt, 18.11.2025: Get the most out of the year's biggest shopping day
7. B.T., 27.11.2025: Consumer analyst on the decline of the air fryer
8. Ønskeskyen, Crystal Ball 2024: Press release
9. Ønskeskyen, Crystal Ball 2025: 20 million wishes reveal what we want under the tree
10. TV 2, 10.12.2025: What are this year's Christmas gift hits?
11. Forbrugerrådet Tænk Kemi: PFAS in consumer products
12. Forbrugerrådet Tænk: Air fryer: what you need to know
13. Forbrugerrådet Tænk: Air fryer test
14. Forbrugerrådet Tænk Kemi, 30.6.2025: Non-stick coatings
15. Danish Food and Veterinary Administration: Cookware
16. Luo et al. 2023, Journal of Hazardous Materials: Micro- and nanoplastics from a kitchen blender
17. Heliyon 2024: Sources of microplastics in the home kitchen
18. EFSA 2025: Literature review on micro- and nanoplastics from food contact materials
19. Scientific American, 27.3.2025: How microplastics get into our food
20. DR, The best from DR: Five tips on plastic in food
21. Arnika and ToxFree LIFE for All, 18.2.2026: Analysis of headphones
22. Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 20.3.2025: Nordic survey of products bought online
23. Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 4.12.2025: Fake Labubu plush toys containing illegal substances seized across the Nordic countries
24. Dansk Erhverv, 20.11.2025: Consumers ready for Black Friday but tightening budgets
25. DI Handel: Black Friday 2025 – what Danes bought
26. Textile Exchange: Materials Market Report 2025
27. European Environment Agency (EEA): Microplastics from textiles
28. European Commission, Textile Strategy 2022: COM(2022) 141
29. Napper and Thompson 2016, Marine Pollution Bulletin: Fibres released from washing synthetic clothing
30. De Falco et al. 2020, Environmental Science and Technology: Fibres from polyester clothing into water and air
31. Napper, Barrett and Thompson 2020, Science of the Total Environment: Testing laundry bags and filters
32. Lassen et al. 2015, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Project no. 1793: Microplastics in Denmark
33. Videnskab.dk, 20.5.2024, translated from The Conversation: Tips on laundry and microfibres
34. Danish Environmental Protection Agency, July 2025: The Danish ban on PFAS in clothing and footwear
35. Danish Environmental Protection Agency: Eyelash serums
36. Forbrugerrådet Tænk Kemi, 28.5.2025: Eyelash serums without prostaglandins