We only use it for one week. We only use it at the specific holiday destination. We don’t bring it back but leave it behind when the holiday is over. It’s made from polluting plastics, shipped halfway across the world, only to end up as landfill after a single week’s use.
I’m talking about all the beach and pool toys and inflatables, that seem to pop up everywhere on holiday destinations around the world. It’s something most of us have probably done - bought a couple of items to keep the kids entertained, make the pool a bit more fun, or just add to the holiday experience. But when you start thinking about the amounts of toys, it becomes harder and harder to ignore the environmental issue.
A few weeks ago, I was on holiday in Mallorca with the family, and that’s when it really hit me just how widespread this has become. The hotel we stayed at had not one, but two shops, both filled with plastic toys and inflatables.
One day, I took a walk around the pool area to count how many items I could spot, and I ended up counting 167 pieces. I didn’t even go to the beach area, but I’m certain the number there would have easily been over 200. Now, in the grand scheme of things, you might think 200 pieces here or there isn’t such a big deal. But think about this: if just 10% of the 10 million tourists visiting Mallorca every year purchase one or two items on average, we’re talking about 1 to 2 million pieces of plastic toys and inflatables sold every year. And that’s just in Mallorca.
When you multiply that across holiday destinations worldwide, the numbers are staggering. That’s a mountain of plastic being produced, shipped, and ultimately discarded for the sake of a few days’ fun. And most of this stuff won’t make it into a suitcase to be reused at the next holiday. They’ll get left behind or thrown out, contributing to the ever-growing plastic waste problem that’s harming our and the local environment.
I completely understand why we buy these things. We want our kids to have fun, we want the holiday to be special. I get that. And I’ve been there too. It’s hard to say no to a smiling face at the shop, especially when the price is so low.
But what if there was a different way? What if, instead of buying cheap, throwaway toys, we could rent it instead? What if those toys were made from recycled materials, were built to last, and we could return them when the holiday was over, knowing they’d be cleaned, reused, and not end up as waste?
That’s what we’re trying to do at Easygoing. We want to make it easy for families to choose a more sustainable option, without sacrificing any of the fun. But we also know it’s a challenge. Renting toys requires a little planning - booking in advance - and it can sometimes feel easier to just buy something on the spot.
So, what do you think? Would you consider renting instead of buying if it meant helping reduce waste and keeping plastic out of our oceans? What would make it easier for you to choose the rental option?
Please share your opinion and/or ideas in the comments below.
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