To be really annoyed by M&S’s LittleShop?

[CraicMammy]

www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/little-shop

It’s such a waste of plastic and the cardboard shop costs £10!

No one needs this and it’s such a waste.

M&S say you can return the plastic toys in store to be recycled into playground toys, but that will ultimately end up in landfill presumably. And it assumes all items are returned for recycling, which with the best will in the world is overly optimistic.

You receive a collectible for each £20 spent, there are 25 items to collect. So you will need to spend at least £500 to get them all!

When the World is unable to safely dispose of the plastic we have created already, we don’t need more. Poor show M&S!!

I do trust that every single person slating them can put their hand on their heart and swear they’ve never ever used a disposable nappy.

Another lazy argument. Disposable nappies, while terrible for the environment, have a function. They’re cheap, easy to use, hygienic and are generally used for a short time. They’re not great, but they have place. A lot of people can’t afford the upfront costs of non-disposables, plus the cost of washing and drying them, and having a big enough stash to always have some available. In an ideal world, we would all use non-disposable nappies. But we’re not in an ideal world.

Now tell me why spending £20 on M&S food to get a crappy, plastic, easily lose-able, limited function, only-used-for-marketing-for-the-massive-conglomerate TINY toy is equivalent to using disposable nappies.

*Another lazy argument. Disposable nappies, while terrible for the environment, have a function. They’re cheap, easy to use, hygienic and are generally used for a short time. They’re not great, but they have place. A lot of people can’t afford the upfront costs of non-disposables, plus the cost of washing and drying them, and having a big enough stash to always have some available. In an ideal world, we would all use non-disposable nappies. But we’re not in an ideal world.

Now tell me why spending £20 on M&S food to get a crappy, plastic, easily lose-able, limited function, only-used-for-marketing-for-the-massive-conglomerate TINY toy is equivalent to using disposable nappies.*

This

Yanbu.

I can only think that this has been in the pipeline for months and it was too late to pull it.

Gosh yes I saw this yesterday! It's horrifying and so surprised that M&S are so out of touch regarding plastic use in their marketing

I felt embarrassed for them because there are plenty of other collectable things that don’t have to be plastic - Morrisons did a summer collectible card thing a few years back.
They could have done seeds or child friendly recipe cards or miniature books. What they’ve chosen to do is to ram plastic and their own products at children just at a time when consumers are developing a conscience.

I still don’t understand who they are targeting.

M&S to me isn’t a family big shop store. I go in and buy fruit because I think it lasts the longest. Cards and the odd pot plant for a birthday. But are these for adults to collect? They are too teeny for kids. It’s the most bizarre thing.

I had to quite forcefully turn some down, last week. Pointed out that I have no need for it, so it's a waste of plastic. Now DS1 loved his play shop and all his imitation markses and sainsburys food, when he was little, but he's a hulking great teenager, now!

The tiny shopping baskets are cute, mind.

@hbowyers

Is that right about Happy Meals? If so that's great! Don't get me wrong, I am definitely against plastic tat per se.

@FurrySlipperBoots I missed the original comment RE McDonald’s but I can’t believe they’re still giving out that crap these days as well as having the cheek to make us drink through plastic straws whilst doing it!

yy geranium. Seeds would be good. Although it's too late to plant a lot of things this time of year.

A quick Google search shows that lego, who make nothing but plastic toys, is worth more than m&s in its entirety and no one gives them a thought.

Even Lego are trying to be more sustainable. They now make botanical elements or pieces such as leaves, bushes and trees, from entirely plant-based plastic. As well as introducing sustainable paper pulp trays for its advent calendar.

It's not a massive impact, and i'm sure they could do much more. But for a company who only make plastic toys at least they're trying.

Google told me that Lego produce 9 BILLION pieces each year.... yes, that's each year!

I think people should get things into perspective regards M&S.

Lego is played with for years though. We've never had a piece break and it can be handed down / sold on.

I've used the Lego advent calendar trays for seedling pots this year.

How can it be compared to Lego?

Nobody ever has or ever will put Lego in the bin. Stop comparing disposable plastic shite to Lego, it’s just stupid.

It’s not comparable to Lego. I still have my 1980’s Lego that the DC play with, its in perfect condition still. No one chucks it out.

If you are annoyed with M&S for running this plastic promotion please sign our petition [[http://chng.it/qxGNBJ7Z ]]

Plastic toy kitchens are awful, a cardboard one won't last a week. Far better to get a second hand wooden one from gumtree or Facebook Market place.

I like them, they will get played with a lot here! Much more than happy meal toys.

Re.lego (bane of my life) I hate the stuff. As for * 'No one chucks it out* ' Of course they do! You think every piece of Lego is still in existence? Probably. Half of it in a landfill with all the other plastic tat.

How environmentally friendly are you WhiteDust? You seem to be one of the ‘you’re all hypocrites for caring about this one thing’ poster, how’s your eco lifestyle? Perfect? Or do you just not bother with any of it?

As for 'No one chucks it out ' Of course they do!

I can't imagine many people throw out Lego. It gets passed down the family, or sold on. (A lot of it sells for more than it's original price)

I'm not sure the same can be said for the M+S items. I suppose a few months of regular play will leave them in a pretty sorry state.

Um my daughter has fallen in love with them and is quite particular what she plays with.

If er anyone has them and would like to send me some Ill paypal postage...

We dont normally shop in M and S as broke but stopped for something specific snd she loves them...

Happy meal plastic crap is much worse than this. As is most of the throwaway plastic stuff you buy for kids or whatever.Yet people complain about plastic straws and miniscule toys. I agree none of it it acceptable but once people jump on a bandwagon they often can't see the wood for the trees (sorry for cliche overload!)

You seem to be one of the ‘you’re all hypocrites for caring about this one thing’ poster, how’s your eco lifestyle? Perfect? Or do you just not bother with any of it?

I am probably on a par with most people. I separate and recycle all household rubbish, use canvas bags instead of plastic carrier bags, avoid unnecessary plastic waste where I can, carry a drink bottle for water/ avoid using takeout drink cups, buy F&V from local greengrocers... I also buy a load of stuff, makeup, toiletries, (clothes, toys etc.) which I know are wasteful.

So, I am far from perfect.

However, focusing on & vilifying the likes of M&S for producing small toys is ridiculous.
By all means petition against M&S (and practically every big corporate chain) and their crappy fake eco policies/ hypocrisy and massive carbon footprint but petition against all of it - look at what these places sell... most of their products will end up in landfill at some point and /or are unnecessary, unneeded. Really.

Arguing that Lego (for example) is better than a small toy from M&S is f'ing ridiculous. People who are happy to buy a load of stuff wrapped in plastic (from M&S in this instance) or by a ton of bloody Lego yet throw their arms up in horror at a few plastic toys at the till are f'king ridiculous AND hypocritical.