Page 16 | Most shops are just landfill waiting to happen.

SummerDaytoNight · 2025-04-13T09:47:47+00:00

I mean, all are to a point, but I’m talking about the non essential ones. Our society is engineering its own collapse. We only need food, health, house basics and clothing. And I suppose, technology. Fast fashion could go. Housing should just be the essentials. My friend took me into a shop called sostrene grene. It was lovely, but nothing was essential. Most shops are like that. The horse has bolted, but I wish we could limit the unnecessarily stuff and just have the basics. Im not talking Amish level, but there’s no need for all this waste. It would be so much better if only the essentials were produced. At the point of production, it’s already basically landfill.

NewMoonontuesday · 13/04/2025 22:35

amAzon is worse than B&M/ Home Bargains . I buy groceries, pet supplies etc in them.
Stop buying if you want. Nothing is built to last, phones that can’t do latest updates.
Can people buy books or only buy second hand?
If I can only have the basics I won’t bother working.
Vinted and charity shops, someone has to buy from a shop to start with.
I would like to see a return to natural fibres and UK or at least Europe made clothing.

Hollyhobbi · 13/04/2025 22:33

Peony1897 · 13/04/2025 22:31

I have to agree with you. I have a family member who goes ALL OUT for every event - Easter, World Book Day, Halloween, Bonfire Night, not to mention birthdays and Christmases etc - every time a full ‘display’ usually a balloon arch, wreaths, outside decorations, goodie baskets, loads of presents, new outfits and pyjamas all round…

They also go on constant days out and holidays - and not cheap ones, Disneyland, big zoos and theme parks and so on.

She doesn’t work and he works in B&Q (not a manager) so how the fuck they afford it I have no idea

I hate to say it but as well as the consumerist angle the kids are completely spoiled

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Probably bought on the never never!

Peony1897 · 13/04/2025 22:31

ShockedandStunnedRepeatedly · 13/04/2025 21:20

I am sorry but if buying a plastic Easter wreath with carrots on is what people are relying on to bring themselves joy, then there really is something wrong with our world. And if you think that makes me sound judgmental - I don’t care.

Edited

I have to agree with you. I have a family member who goes ALL OUT for every event - Easter, World Book Day, Halloween, Bonfire Night, not to mention birthdays and Christmases etc - every time a full ‘display’ usually a balloon arch, wreaths, outside decorations, goodie baskets, loads of presents, new outfits and pyjamas all round…

They also go on constant days out and holidays - and not cheap ones, Disneyland, big zoos and theme parks and so on.

She doesn’t work and he works in B&Q (not a manager) so how the fuck they afford it I have no idea

I hate to say it but as well as the consumerist angle the kids are completely spoiled

Peony1897 · 13/04/2025 22:24

Agree.

And I’m not going to pretend I’m any better. I buy too much stuff and I NEED TO STOP.

Perhaps we could start a supportive thread for us spendaholics looking to buy less?

MariaUSA · 13/04/2025 22:04

I buy a lot of things at thrift shops here in USA.

CreationNat1on · 13/04/2025 21:59

Are we not allowed to discuss Temu on MN?

Tbrh · 13/04/2025 21:49

LillyPJ · 13/04/2025 21:19

If we didn't buy it, they wouldn't produce it - and vice versa. The question is, how could the cycle be broken? Is it realistic to have laws to prevent stuff being produced? I don't think that's ever going to happen. But as consumers, we can do our bit, even if it's only a tiny contribution.

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People can start taking some self responsibility for the sort of world they are creating and leaving for future generations. The ugy truth is, they don't care

ShockedandStunnedRepeatedly · 13/04/2025 21:49

AND ANOTHER THING…!

What is with all the people near me sitting with their engines running checking their phones. Honestly. Polluting the air their kids breathe, wasting their money and destroying the planet. It’s like people have gone collectively mad since Covid.

Tbrh · 13/04/2025 21:46

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:21

Who's demanding it? Who says there’s a demand? Do you think if they stopped producing so much people would actually notice? Honestly?

I'm not saying nothing should be produced. We need to be thinking about getting rid of the excess. And at the moment there is far, far too much excess.

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People buy unnecessary crap all the time. This is why parents have to be in full time work because they want, want, want. Look through your last bank statement for the past six months and the difference between what you wanted and needed. Fashion is a good one, people are buying baggy jeans now, not because there was anything wrong with their skinny jeans. The worst offenders are those who always update their furniture, so wasteful. Not to mention all of the SUVs that have started clogging our roads in the past couple of years. Big, fat consumer greed 🐷

Original poster

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:43

TheGaaTheSkaAndTheRa · 13/04/2025 18:00

People need to stop buying it though.

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Agree. But businesses need to stop producing it. Then it can’t be bought.

As soon as it’s made, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. I find that quite scary.

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EasternStandard · 13/04/2025 21:30

LillyPJ · 13/04/2025 21:19

If we didn't buy it, they wouldn't produce it - and vice versa. The question is, how could the cycle be broken? Is it realistic to have laws to prevent stuff being produced? I don't think that's ever going to happen. But as consumers, we can do our bit, even if it's only a tiny contribution.

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Well one way is price but look at what tariffs do to consumerism and markets when they’re put on cheap producers.

CatamaranViper · 13/04/2025 21:27

SonoPazziQuestiRomani · 13/04/2025 14:50

What I mean is, a table lasting 9 years is not evidence in and of itself that B&M doesn't sell large quantities of absolute rubbish (your table is made of MDF and i claim my £5). As an example it's similar to the people on the style and beauty boards who say things like, "I got this top from Primark and it's still in great condition after 6 months!" as though that's somehow a hallmark of a quality item.

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It's not MDF so I'll have that £5 back cheers.

Original poster

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:25

LillyPJ · 13/04/2025 21:19

If we didn't buy it, they wouldn't produce it - and vice versa. The question is, how could the cycle be broken? Is it realistic to have laws to prevent stuff being produced? I don't think that's ever going to happen. But as consumers, we can do our bit, even if it's only a tiny contribution.

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I don’t think it’s impossible to have laws to stop things being produced. I think we could have laws preventing fast fashion. And preventing things being shipped around the world. And sending landfill to poorer countries.

Not easy in any way shape or form, but not impossible. We only have one planet. What planet do we want our descendants to inherit?

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Original poster

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:21

Tbrh · 13/04/2025 21:10

But it's only produced because there is a demand for it

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Who's demanding it? Who says there’s a demand? Do you think if they stopped producing so much people would actually notice? Honestly?

I'm not saying nothing should be produced. We need to be thinking about getting rid of the excess. And at the moment there is far, far too much excess.

OP posts:

ShockedandStunnedRepeatedly · 13/04/2025 21:20

I am sorry but if buying a plastic Easter wreath with carrots on is what people are relying on to bring themselves joy, then there really is something wrong with our world. And if you think that makes me sound judgmental - I don’t care.

LillyPJ · 13/04/2025 21:19

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:06

I think (understandably) the thread has morphed into people as consumers feeling guilty about buying too much and promising to buy less (which I am doing).

My point is about how much is produced in the first place. It needs to be stopped at the production level. We just don’t need all of this stuff. Once it’s produced, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. The only way we can prevent the amount of landfill we have is to stop producing it in the first place.

Then put resources into what is actually needed.

If we didn't buy it, they wouldn't produce it - and vice versa. The question is, how could the cycle be broken? Is it realistic to have laws to prevent stuff being produced? I don't think that's ever going to happen. But as consumers, we can do our bit, even if it's only a tiny contribution.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 13/04/2025 21:16

Well, I for one have never "demanded" Easter crackers, yet somebody produced them, and if none of us buy them they will indeed end up as landfill, exactly as the OP says.

Ditto wreaths with carrots on and countless other things. When I see them, I do wonder if I am just a boring old stick-in-the-mud with no sense of fun, and wonder what it would be like to be someone who buys all these decorative items and uses them. I think they are pointless then I think well, if they bring someone joy, even for a short time, they aren't pointless, are they?
But if seeing them stresses me - a person who can afford them, but chooses not to buy them - then how much more does it stress someone who can't really afford them but wants to have them just to bring a bit of pleasure into their lives, however briefly, and who am I to police other people's pleasure?
Confused ...

Tbrh · 13/04/2025 21:10

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:06

I think (understandably) the thread has morphed into people as consumers feeling guilty about buying too much and promising to buy less (which I am doing).

My point is about how much is produced in the first place. It needs to be stopped at the production level. We just don’t need all of this stuff. Once it’s produced, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. The only way we can prevent the amount of landfill we have is to stop producing it in the first place.

Then put resources into what is actually needed.

But it's only produced because there is a demand for it

Original poster

SummerDaytoNight · 13/04/2025 21:06

I think (understandably) the thread has morphed into people as consumers feeling guilty about buying too much and promising to buy less (which I am doing).

My point is about how much is produced in the first place. It needs to be stopped at the production level. We just don’t need all of this stuff. Once it’s produced, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. The only way we can prevent the amount of landfill we have is to stop producing it in the first place.

Then put resources into what is actually needed.

OP posts:

Katypp · 13/04/2025 20:52

ThisFluentBiscuit · 13/04/2025 19:00

Many charities these days don't want used toys, clothes, and bedding, even if in good condition. They want everything new. That's definitely been a block in getting rid of stuff.

Edited

That is a really good point.
Much is made of 'preloved' stuff but there's a lot charity shops won't take, hence perfectly good stuff goes to landfill.

Istilldontlikeolives · 13/04/2025 20:43

Yep. I walked around a shopping centre recently and all i could think of was just how many of the shops sold things that were exclusively unnecessary. I thought of the sostrene grene shop immediately when i read the thread title. I haven’t been in the shop because it just looks like a more expensive flying tiger type place. There’s one of those usa documentaries regarding this topic that has been added recently. Some of it made me feel ill (eg shipping so much unwanted clothing to some African counties that they dont know what to do with it so it gets washed into the sea…. Yet there are plenty destitute people wearing rags).

DuesToTheDirt · 13/04/2025 20:37

greeenscreeen · 13/04/2025 18:21

I absolutely HATE it. All the Easter crap absolutely everywhere. Ten years ago it wasn't even a thing. But I understand why parents feel obliged to get half of it. Keeping up with the Jones' and all that. Feeling their children will be the only ones without the massive haul of plastic shit. I refuse to participate, but it's easy when mine is only a toddler. I have no intention of bowing to peer pressure, but I should imagine it will become more difficult as my DC gets older, especially around Christmas.

I can still remember the first time I saw plastic Halloween tat, about 15 years ago at a friend's house, and I thought, What the hell? Who needs plastic pumpkins and little plastic glowing skeletons? Not me for sure.

CoffeeandWalnuts · 13/04/2025 20:33

I've not read the whole thread so apologies if this was already mentioned.

I was listening to the Stompcast podcast last week with Patrick Grant the founder of Community Clothing who are making ethical, quality clothes in the UK. They were discussing the fast fashion culture and it was really interesting, made me think again about buying from the high street. We're basically being totally hoodwinked by brands giving us unachievable desires on the perfect new outfit.
Good job I love buying and reselling on Vinted.

Dexies · 13/04/2025 20:22

Haven’t read all the posts, I’m always struck by how prescient ( I think that’s the right word) the animation film Wall-e from 2008 was .

AtLeastThreeDrinks · 13/04/2025 20:12

Xiaoxiong · 13/04/2025 11:02

YANBU at all. I really don't enjoy shopping any more for this reason. I try only to buy consumables or things we really need.

I went to Ikea yesterday for a lighter duvet as I'm getting too hot in the night these days for a heavy duvet, and the piles and piles of STUFF I was walking through was utterly suffocating.

Suffocating, yes! I've been trying to think of how to describe how it makes me feel and there you go. We were at a market today, half looking at some prints as we've recently moved and have a blank wall. But all I could think was that one day it'll be something more to dispose of. Which is depressing. But I feel a kind of pressure for our new home to seem "finished". I'm not sure if that's capitalism or some kind of nesting instinct.