Barbie Thumbelina Green Washing Campaign

Barbie Thumbelina is a new movie and line of toys from Barbie.  No, it doesn't tell the story of Thumbelina.  Nope, no princesses either.  Instead, the fairies (Twillerbees) are off on an eco-friendly journey to save the planet.  Sounds like something I'd love, right?  Nope, wrong again!  The fairies come across as not only bratty but completely stupid.  They also resort to eco-terrorism of sorts by destroying the demolishing equipment that is going to ruin their flower field.  While it does make the point that everyone plays a role in the protection of the environment, it just goes about it in all the wrong way.  They really could have made some major headway with this movie and campaign but fall sadly very, very short.

The toys that go with the movie look as green as can be.  There's environmental "facts" printed on the side of the packages which is absolutely great!  The problem is that it's the same old packaging with the same old cheap ass toys inside.  The package looks exactly as it should using non-glossy inks and plain brown cardboard backing.  When you look at it closely though, it's not environmentally friendly at all.  They could have (should have) used recycled cardboard for the toy's packages.  Instead, the package is marked as recyclable.  Recyclabe!  What the heck does that even mean?  Isn't all (okay most) cardboard capable of being recycled?  It's got the same waste producing plastic covering the same made in china out of plastic doll inside.  This line takes green-washing to an all new low.  Nothing is recycled, everything is overpackaged and exactly the same as you'd expect from Mattel.  They can take this line of "eco-friendly toys" and shove it!!  I will not be buying anything from this product line for my daughter or anyone else's!!!  Ridiculous.  Just another plot to remove money from parent's wallets.