The retail landscape is shifting, and millennials now express clear preferences for the products they endorse and utterly reject. Their choices often stem from environmental concerns and practical living, and here are some products they believe we should consider avoiding.
Single-Use Coffee Pods
While they are convenient, single-use coffee pods are incredibly wasteful. For this reason, millennials are opting for more eco-friendly coffee brewing methods like French presses or refillable pods. Not only do these alternatives reduce waste, but they also tend to produce a better-tasting cup of coffee.
Paper Towels
One of the biggest contributors to deforestation and waste is paper towels, so millennials suggest using reusable cloth towels or bamboo alternatives. These options are more sustainable and can be easily washed and reused. It’s smart, as adopting reusable towels helps conserve natural resources and reduce household waste.
Packaged Produce
Another product millennials think we should stop buying is pre-packaged produce, which contributes enormously to unnecessary plastic waste. They’ll buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of packaged alternatives and prefer to use fill-up markets for items such as rice, legumes, and spices.
Disposable Razors
The reason millennials want us to stop buying disposable razors is that they contribute significantly to landfill waste. Instead, they advocate for eco-friendly alternatives like safety razors or electric shavers, which Green Living Tips agrees are not just sustainable but also more cost-effective in the long run.
Fast Fashion Clothing
Ethical brands and thrift shops are becoming the go-to option for millennials instead of fast fashion, which leads to overconsumption and environmental harm. They’d much prefer investing in higher-quality, durable clothing items or buying second-hand, which we’d have to agree is smart.
Bottled Water
The environmental impact of plastic bottles is huge, so millennials are turning to reusable water bottles as a sustainable alternative. This change reduces plastic waste and promotes better hydration habits, so investing in a good-quality water bottle is a great idea in every way.
Air Fresheners
There’s nothing good going for synthetic air fresheners; they contain harmful chemicals and are terrible for the environment, so millennials recommend natural alternatives like essential oil diffusers. Alternatively, they recommend simply opening windows for fresh air, which is clearly the cheapest and most responsible option.
Single-Use Plastics
Cutlery, straws, and plates are all prime suspects in millennials’ campaign against single-use plastics. Instead, they advocate for reusable alternatives made from metal, bamboo, or biodegradable materials, which prevent the need for plastic waste and thus help the environment. Better still, buy metal alternatives and wash them yourself.
Conventional Cleaning Products
Many household cleaning products that we have used for decades contain harmful chemicals, so millennials suggest we should stop buying them. There are eco-friendly cleaning solutions out there made from natural ingredients in your cupboard, such as using vinegar and baking soda.
Disposable Diapers
While every parent needs diapers, millennials think it’s time for disposable diapers to end. They create enormous amounts of landfill waste, so our younger generation of parents are switching to cloth diapers, which are reusable and more environmentally friendly. They’re smart to point out that it saves you money, too.
Plastic Grocery Bags
Yet another example of single-use plastic that millennials hate is plastic grocery bags. As they advise, anyone can bring reusable shopping bags made from fabric or other sustainable materials to the store. Frankly, not doing so is plain lazy, especially considering that we’re usually charged for plastic bags now.
Synthetic Fabrics
Polyester and other synthetic fabrics are also on the hit lists of millennials. They prefer natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool, which are biodegradable and often more comfortable to wear, making us wonder why we were using polyester in the first place.
Cheap Electronics
Millennials will be quick to judge if they catch you buying cheap electronics, which have short lifespans and contribute terribly to electronic waste. They recommend we invest a little more cash into higher-quality, durable electronics that last longer. They’re not wrong; doing so is a win-win for all involved.
Conventional Meat
The environmental impact of conventional meat production is undeniable, but many boomers aren’t happy with millennials telling them to stop buying it. Instead, millennials are shifting towards plant-based diets or sustainably sourced meat. Most boomers agree with the latter part, but they’re not convinced by vegan diets just yet.
Pre-Packaged Snacks
It’s easy to make your own snacks at home, yet millions of Americans buy prepackaged products instead, generating immense plastic waste. As you can imagine, millennials aren’t happy about this, recommending that we stop the madness and pack our own homemade, healthy snacks into reusable containers.
Non-Recyclable Wrapping Paper
Another product that millennials are sick of seeing is non-recyclable wrapping paper, which, unsurprisingly, adds to landfill waste. They want us to use recyclable or reusable wrapping options, such as fabric wraps or paper made from recycled materials. This will take some getting used to, but we’re all for it.
Traditional Light Bulbs
The energy inefficiency of incandescent light bulbs has made them another item millennials have sworn to vengeance against. They’re telling us to switch to LED bulbs, and to be fair, most of the country has. This change, over time, will help reduce electricity consumption while lowering household energy bills.
Disposable Batteries
One of the most toxic products that millennials are trying to stop is disposable batteries, which specifically contribute to toxic waste. As an alternative, they’re advocating for rechargeable batteries, which can be used repeatedly. It’s a switch that does seem obvious; disposable batteries seem old-fashioned compared to reusables.
Non-Essential Gadgets
It’s very common for non-essential gadgets, such as fancy kitchen appliances, to end up unused and in landfills. So, millennials are focusing on buying only necessary electronics and avoiding impulse gadget purchases. This minimalist approach helps reduce waste and encourages more intentional consumption, which we could all learn from.
Pre-Made Meals
The excessive packaging and terrible ingredients of pre-made meals are leading millennials to refuse to consume them. They claim that cooking at home comes with many more benefits, such as using fresh ingredients, learning a skill, and reducing packaging waste. They’re absolutely right on this one–TV dinners need to go.
Non-Digital Books
While most bookworms appreciate the tactile experience of books, the production of non-digital books involves significant resource use. To combat this, millennials are moving towards e-books and audiobooks, which are both cheaper and more environmentally friendly. We like them both, so we hope a sustainable book-printing practice is discovered.