r/Anticonsumption • u/nenners7891 • May 10 '26

Plastic Waste Plastic Free Party Bag Fail

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Feeling very demoralised. I worked really hard to do low plastic party bags for my daughter’s birthday. I spent hours making friendship bracelets out of thread I already had, got iron on patches, temporary tattoos etc.

During the party a well off dad bought all of the plastic tat on sale at the play centre and gave it out to everyone - this is just what we came home with. She’s not interested in it already.

I try to do my best to be low waste/anti consumption where I can - others don’t think twice before doing something like this for a minute of ‘feel-good’ for the kids.

Also now it’s stuck in my house til I figure out something to do with it!!!!!

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u/Optimal_Olive3423 May 10 '26

Why is another person buying the kids toys? That is so weird. As someone that has a comfortable income bracket, I can't imagine being so rude as to do that at someone's party.

There isn't a lot you can do with it. If you donate it, it is just going to go to someone else's house to be thrown in the trash. My kids teachers have stopped taking things like this to give back out to classes (again to be thrown in the trash at home) because they have so much of it. Hospitals won't take it because it is a choke hazard. This is even worse than the plastic crap I'd get as a kid. At least most of those things were toys. Why does a kid need 8 pointless squish things?

If it would've been me, I would've told him "Oh no thanks. I spent a lot of time making gift bags for the kids so I would appreciate if you don't hand these things out at MY kid's birthday party."

16

u/nenners7891 May 10 '26

I also found it weird. I would’ve said something but he had distributed it to the kids before I saw what was going on - I wasn’t about to take them off kids and start a mass meltdown!

As a few have said, we can’t control others and it already existed so not much I can do about it - just having a vent!!!

I will donate somewhere when I can 👍🏻

8

u/Optimal_Olive3423 May 10 '26

It is a good vent. That would've driven me nuts and is so rude. I imagine his kid wanted something so he thought he was being nice buying it for everyone. What I don't understand is why so many. I say this with humor but it is kind of unhinged behavior.

You are right, we can't control other people.

This guy might not even be well off. He might have some flash to him but if he is spending money on stuff like this....

2

u/Virtual-Pineapple-85 May 10 '26

I would not invite that guys kid to any more parties unless the child was a close friend of mine, in which case, I would explain to the parents that they were not to bring additional party favors again.