Waitrose to ban children’s magazines with free plastic toys

[BobBobBobbin]

Sorry if this has been done already - couldn’t see a thread but this seems to tick so many mumsnet boxes I can’t believe no-one else got there first.

Waitrose is planning to ban children’s magazines with plastic free gifts, because of their environmental impact.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/waitrose/waitrose-bans-kids-magazines-with-free-plastic-toys/654444.article

I’m prepared to be talked round to this as I’m normally very pro measures to improve sustainability but my first reaction was “FFS! Are small treats for children really something that needs to be banned?” I very occasionally buy children’s magazines and we’ve had some decent play value out of some of the ‘plastic tat’ free gifts. The CBeebies numberblocks sets have been played with for hours upon hours.

So AIBU to think banning children’s magazines with plastic free gifts is a step too far?

YABU - this is good thing to do
YANBU - this is OTT

Hmm - thanks @Cherryicecubes; I'm ashamed I didn't know more. I stayed by an avocado plantation in Guatemala once. Think I'll have them as a quarterly treat from now on.

@Hfjshdhs

YANBU. The plastic toys in the CBeebies mag become some of the most used toys in this house.

And then sometimes a parent takes the no longer used but previously loved toy and keeps it on their own bookshelves for ever, as a happy memory....

No idea why people are so upset about this.

Surely there are places you can buy purely plastic tat for the same price the magazine will cost?

And yes. Christmas crackers and kinder eggs as well.

I am pmsl at the idea that a magazine with plastic tat in it encourages children to read. You do know that it’s the magazine they’re supposed to be reading? They can still do that without the plastic tat.

I’m not upset about it, but the toy does lure my child to get the magazine, and once we’ve got the magazine we work through it. Not reading, she’s too little, but counting and stickers and colouring. She shows no interest in straight colouring or sticker books but stick something colourful and flashy on the front and she’s in there like a shot. I hope at either other shops don’t follow suit or the magazines can find alternative non plastic toys because I will miss the half hour peace on a Saturday morning if they disappear completely.

I think what gets me is the plastic tat is so very disposable - it has no at value and breaks within seconds. Even happy meal tut is better.

Hearts I wouldn't say I am 'upset' by this but I just think it's a silly decision from Waitrose.
I don't shop there - but that's only because there isn't one convenient to me - but if this was my 'main' supermarket I would be annoyed that I can no longer buy something I want to buy from them. I would basically have to find another supermarket to go to. When I do a big supermarket shop it always includes a stock up of non food items that I like to buy. This includes several magazines that frequently come with plastic items as part of it. I don't want to have to go to two shops when I can go to one.
It's my choice as a consumer to buy these magazines if I want to. It's Waitrose choice not to stock them. But if they were my usual supermarket they will have just lost me as a customer.

Was really sad to read that. Those magazines were a real treat for my DC, and they played with the toys a lot.