Happy meal toys..

[ArrabellaAM]

Right.. I know this might be a bit divisive but...

Anyone else think the new cardboard happy meal toys are absolute crap.
Like dont even bother wasting the cardboard cause it probably won't even make its way to the recycling bin level crap.

I know they've always been a bit naff but at least they were played with.

I know they are reducing single use plastics and all the eco friendly rationale.
I also know I'll be sent straight to hell for letting my child ingest a happy meal.

@PegPeople

What’s stopping you targeting shops for their plastic waste? That’s a great thing to do, it’s not either or.

Who is saying I don't do anything to try and tackle this problem?

Unfortunately people are much less resistant to change that affects them than change which doesn't. Hence why so many people were cross about banning plastic straws and why excess packaging isn't an issue for many as it would make their lives more difficult but hardly anyone is bothered by toys in happy meals which are only enjoyed by a small group of children.

You said:

Rather than start on a small scale, maybe we should be looking to target bigger producers of plastic waste like excessive packaging waste in shops for example.

so what are you doing about supermarkets while cheering McDonalds? Also I really doubt anyone would give a shit about reduced packaging in McDonalds, people don’t like paper straws because they’re crap. But most adults are perfectly capable of using reusable straws, it’s an easy solution.

@Pumperthepumper yes I do. Annoying though when most of it goes to landfill anyway. Where I used to live we had separate bins for various recycling as well as general waste and it all got put in the same truck. Surely it’s better to have something to keep and lasts? Like other pp I’ve got toys that are more than 20 years old, surely that’s better than flimsy cardboard that gets thrown away and ignored?

@Whinge

I’m not sure why you brought it up then - it was something you didn’t agree with and complained about. Have you stopped recycling now because your council made a mistake?

I bought it up because even though a person may be doing the right thing by recycling, it doesn't mean their actions are beneficial as they may be undone by others.

Says who? You complained, what’s happening now, are they still refusing to recycle?

I hadn't seen these before so Googled it. Yes, they look rubbish, in that in the hands of just about every 3-7yo (target market?) they wouldn't last two minutes.

I find myself surprised to be sympathising with McDonald's, but I'm not sure they can win here. No toy? Sales go down, people brand them child-disappointing killjoys. Books? Lovely, but they need to be a certain quality/brand otherwise they aren't as desirable. Hard plastic? Environmental catastrophe? Soft toys/Beanies etc - I like these, but presumably they are also basically manufactured in a sweatshop. The Top Trumps style is the only thing that's vaguely passable. I guess they have the brain and people power to design a range of card games (or swap style games?) into infinity, but it does narrow their remit.

Obviously there are much much bigger considerations in this world, but if you're the McD's Happy Meal department that isn't the easiest set of constraints to work within.

[quote ChrissyPlummer]@Pumperthepumper yes I do. Annoying though when most of it goes to landfill anyway. Where I used to live we had separate bins for various recycling as well as general waste and it all got put in the same truck. Surely it’s better to have something to keep and lasts? Like other pp I’ve got toys that are more than 20 years old, surely that’s better than flimsy cardboard that gets thrown away and ignored?[/quote]
My point is, why recycle if you’re not living a 100% eco conscious life? Why do one little thing that makes no difference to supermarket plastic or the rainforest?

It’s because it does all make a difference, the little things add up. We don’t need a handful of people being 100% perfect (wipes, plastic bottles etc from your example) - we need everyone doing their bit (say 10%) to stop excess waste. That’s it. It’s ridiculous to criticise people who want conglomerates like McDonalds to stop pumping plastic into landfill every single day for decades just because those people might use bottles of handgel.

@emilyfrost

YANBU. They shouldn’t have stopped the plastic toys just to please the hippies

Wtf. It's not "hippy" to give a shit about the environment. how bizarre

so what are you doing about supermarkets while cheering McDonalds? Also I really doubt anyone would give a shit about reduced packaging in McDonalds, people don’t like paper straws because they’re crap. But most adults are perfectly capable of using reusable straws, it’s an easy solution.

I'm not cheering McDonald's?? I'm merely pointing out people wouldn't be so eager for changes that impacted them such as excessive plastic is supermarkets. Those who think it's a good idea are only saying that because its a change that has no impact on them. Its very easy to agree to something when it isn't affecting you.

You can ask for a book OR a toy though so if the cardboard toys are crap, get the books. That sounds better anyway!

My children love the top trumps cards, we collected them from family for them so they have loads! Its actually really sweet because they got a mew pack yesterday and spent about an hour running in from their bedroom to tell me the special things about the animals on the cards.
the spongebob one was basically just extra rubbish in the pack, but its lightweight enough and flat enough for me to put in my bag for emergencies. possibly on the train or bus I can get them out and keep them quiet for five seconds
The point is that McDonald's are actually taking BIG and clear steps to reducing their plastic usage. Iceland are too and it really is a good thing. For years I used to get my kids a burger and fries, not a happy meal because I already felt bad about supporting a large Corp who wreck our world (but its easy and cheap on days out and with the big screens I don't even have to talk to another person) and the extra added plastic toy just upset me too much. They would bring the crappy toys home from their cousins anyway (who would have binned them otherwise.)
I will say some of the toys were better when I was a child, I have a magnetic boardgames from at least 18/19 years ago and its actually great quality. so much so that its not been thrown

Glad I'm not alone in thinking it's crap.
We always ask for the book and always get given the cardboard 'toy'. As it's drive through we don't bother going back to ask for the book instead.

I actually think the book idea is great. Shame we never actually get one.

@PegPeople

so what are you doing about supermarkets while cheering McDonalds? Also I really doubt anyone would give a shit about reduced packaging in McDonalds, people don’t like paper straws because they’re crap. But most adults are perfectly capable of using reusable straws, it’s an easy solution.

I'm not cheering McDonald's?? I'm merely pointing out people wouldn't be so eager for changes that impacted them such as excessive plastic is supermarkets. Those who think it's a good idea are only saying that because its a change that has no impact on them. Its very easy to agree to something when it isn't affecting you.

What are you doing about supermarkets?

What are you doing about supermarkets?

Why do you need a detailed account of what I'm doing to tackle excessive plastic in supermarkets? How would that help the discussion?

As adults I'm sure we are all more than capable of understanding that no matter what I or others are doing to try and tackle this problem it's unlikely to have much of an impact until new laws are brought in or supermarkets themselves jump on the 'green bandwagon' and begin to see the benefit to their company in initiating these changes.

@Pumperthepumper that’s fair enough. Honestly, though whatever we do here isn’t even a drop in the ocean (pardon the pun). I’ve been on holiday to places where everyday they’ve given us single-use plastic toothbrushes wrapped in more plastic, glasses wrapped in plastic each day, huge hotel in a huge city so 1000s of these every day. Last time I went to the US I bought a few things in a pharmacy and they double-bagged it without me asking, multiply that across the 1000s of stores they have and me having a few plastic toys (that I’ll keep till I’m dead) makes zero difference.

My comment about hand gel etc was as others are saying, everything is OK until it impacts them directly.

@PegPeople

What are you doing about supermarkets?

Why do you need a detailed account of what I'm doing to tackle excessive plastic in supermarkets? How would that help the discussion?

As adults I'm sure we are all more than capable of understanding that no matter what I or others are doing to try and tackle this problem it's unlikely to have much of an impact until new laws are brought in or supermarkets themselves jump on the 'green bandwagon' and begin to see the benefit to their company in initiating these changes.

Because this is your argument, don’t worry about McDonalds because the supermarket is worse. You even said ‘who says I’m not doing anything about the supermarkets?’ I’m pointing out how ridiculous that is, and you’re not even doing anything about the supermarkets anyway.

[quote ChrissyPlummer]@Pumperthepumper that’s fair enough. Honestly, though whatever we do here isn’t even a drop in the ocean (pardon the pun). I’ve been on holiday to places where everyday they’ve given us single-use plastic toothbrushes wrapped in more plastic, glasses wrapped in plastic each day, huge hotel in a huge city so 1000s of these every day. Last time I went to the US I bought a few things in a pharmacy and they double-bagged it without me asking, multiply that across the 1000s of stores they have and me having a few plastic toys (that I’ll keep till I’m dead) makes zero difference.

My comment about hand gel etc was as others are saying, everything is OK until it impacts them directly.[/quote]
I don’t think that’s fair either though, plastic is used generally because it’s massively more convenient so in the main you’re making a choice to go out of your way to stop using it. You’re inconveniencing yourself for the sake of the earth. And we all do something like, recycling- annoying, much easier to shove it all in one bin. Rewatching masks - another chore. Mooncups - fiddly and expensive. People still do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Because this is your argument, don’t worry about McDonalds because the supermarket is worse. You even said ‘who says I’m not doing anything about the supermarkets?’ I’m pointing out how ridiculous that is, and you’re not even doing anything about the supermarkets anyway.

My argument is that its just paying lip service. If people wanted actual change then we could start to make a real difference but most people don't want change they want convinience.

Also not at all sure you know how I'm not trying to change how much waste supermarkets create. It's impossible to know what I do in the real world.

@ItsGotABitOfPink

Glad I'm not alone in thinking it's crap. We always ask for the book and always get given the cardboard 'toy'. As it's drive through we don't bother going back to ask for the book instead.

I actually think the book idea is great. Shame we never actually get one.

The books tend to go first so you get a toy by default once there's none left.

@PegPeople

Because this is your argument, don’t worry about McDonalds because the supermarket is worse. You even said ‘who says I’m not doing anything about the supermarkets?’ I’m pointing out how ridiculous that is, and you’re not even doing anything about the supermarkets anyway.

My argument is that its just paying lip service. If people wanted actual change then we could start to make a real difference but most people don't want change they want convinience.

Also not at all sure you know how I'm not trying to change how much waste supermarkets create. It's impossible to know what I do in the real world.

I suspect the fact you’re so reluctant to say exactly what it is that you do is because you’re ‘just paying lip service’.

Of course people want convenience, that’s why everyone making a change (that inconveniences them) is brilliant. It’s why we should celebrate small changes rather than arguing we need to start with the big things.

I suspect the fact you’re so reluctant to say exactly what it is that you do is because you’re ‘just paying lip service’.

No I just don't wish to derail the thread any further and feel no need to justify what action I take to someone on the Internet. I could give you an entire list but you would probably still find fault and getting into a discussion of who is doing more is never productive.

I appreciate you're opinions but still believe they are only making this change because of external pressure which should in my opinion be targeted elsewhere.

@PegPeople

I suspect the fact you’re so reluctant to say exactly what it is that you do is because you’re ‘just paying lip service’.

No I just don't wish to derail the thread any further and feel no need to justify what action I take to someone on the Internet. I could give you an entire list but you would probably still find fault and getting into a discussion of who is doing more is never productive.

I appreciate you're opinions but still believe they are only making this change because of external pressure which should in my opinion be targeted elsewhere.

Sure. Who cares why they’re making the change so long as they are actually changing?

No often the books are crap too as they often only give you a section of a longer story book. I get that they want to stop the plastic so they should just put in nothing and make the meal cheaper as the you I'd pointless.

Yes they are awful, my LG was so disappointed. I remember when I was a child I got some kind of actual Gameboy in my happy meal.

Can people please drop the old chestnut of what's the point of paper straws if they don't get recycled. It's a complete red herring and not well thought out.

Yes a proper might end up in land fill and get broken down over a matter of months in the tip, but a plastic one in the same tip will be degrading 900 years later, reacting with other chemicals in the tip leaching dangerous chemicals for years to come and leading Ng to micro plastic pollution well after every one and there family's are no longer on this planet. What a gift!

I just remembered the Betty Spaghetti dolls
me and my sister got in our HM with the hair that retracts and interchangeable bodies. So much fun. My LG got a cardboard excavator that tore as she built it so wasn't able to play with it.

Let's face it cardboard is cheaper for McDonalds, if they really cared about the environment they wouldn't be selling beef.