Have you seen those commercials from Dixie and Bounty lately? The ones that seem to tell you that you’re a “better” mom by using their disposable products? I was reading through this thread on DiaperSwappers and I’m glad I’m not the only one pissed off at the angle these companies are using.
Dixie says you’re a better mom for using paper plates because you’ll have more time for your kids. So on top of all the “mom guilt” we already have, now we’re supposed to add things like doing dishes to the pile? Give me a break! If you want guilt, instead of feeling guilty for using those 10 minutes to do dishes, let’s try feeling guilty about leaving MORE GARBAGE for the planet in which our kids will grow up.

Then there’s Bounty. I keep seeing the same commercial about how a mom lets her child eat messy spaghetti and use the big kid cup, and lets her husband do the dishes. Are they telling me that by using paper towels, I’m a more carefree mom because kids with food on their faces won’t bother me? Are they REALLY trying to tell me that if I used a cloth towel instead, that I’m more uptight?? And at the end they claim that the paper towel is now “softer” and “more like cloth.” Um, hello? Then why don’t you just USE CLOTH?!

I’ve worked in marketing for years and I generally love the topic. I love looking at reasons why ads may have been done the way they were. I’m just so disappointed that in this day and age, with environmentalism becoming more and more mainstream, that there is still such a big push for the disposable lifestyle.

Filed by Maria in environment, rants