TikToker Marissa (@honeylunehivery) is all about the popularity of wooden toys.
“From a sustainable environmental perspective, I love the idea of wooden toys that don’t end up in landfills,” says Marissa.
@honeylunehivery Stop trying to make the economically unattainable sustainable 😠 There are so many. many . Method . Become more sustainable without spending money on expensive zero-waste products. Being greener and more eco-friendly is not a “trend”. Greenwashing is real. ♻️ #Greenwash #SustainableLiving #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #ZeroWaste #EcoLiving #EcoHome #HolisticHome #HolisticLiving ♬Original Song – Your Holistic Home Helper🌿
But there’s a problem. There are trends within the sustainability movement that Marissa finds “frustrating.”
The source of her dissatisfaction was a recent video she saw of parents complaining about the high prices of toys. In the past few years, many companies have started offering these expensive, sustainable toys. For example, Natural Baby Company sells a wooden fire engine for $190.
At such prices, it is “highly impossible” for most parents to provide their children with these toys, especially as prices continue to rise due to inflation.
“Who doesn’t have a six-figure disposable income?” Marissa says wryly.
At the heart of her argument is how expensive, trendy products undermine the ethos of sustainability. “We’re really upselling the basics,” she explains.
She gave the example of another recent trend: the rise of luxury glass containers. While these containers can be a sustainable option, Marissa argues that they shouldn’t be the only option. “Mason jars existed before this glass container trend,” she points out.
How many of our grandparents reused containers for everything? Hyper-consumerism has made such reuse a thing of the past, but it doesn’t have to be. Some people are taking to social media to discuss the savings of reusing glass containers.
Marissa considers this green consumerism trend to be “greenwashing.” Greenwashing refers to when companies advertise themselves as being environmentally friendly while doing little to help the planet. For more information on greenwashing, check out TCD’s guide.
Marissa offers a powerful conclusion in her video description. “Stop making sustainability economically unattainable.…Being greener and greener is not a ‘trend.’”
By highlighting this issue, Marissa raises an important point. Sustainability must be accessible to everyone, regardless of income level.
There are many ways to adopt a greener lifestyle without spending a fortune. The next time you see an overpriced product advertised as sustainable, remember Marissa’s message. A better solution may be waiting to be discovered.
It’s a solution that resonates with users.
One user commented: “I completely agree with this…thank you.”
“You’re right!” said another. ”[This trend] It makes no sense. “
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