Have you watched the Barbie movie yet? If the answer is no, we'll do our best not to spoil the film for you, while discussing significant issues that arise from the doll's increased popularity after the movie's release.
These issues are pretty disturbing and worth talking about in the saturated social media environment with Barbie's (no doubt great) marketing efforts.
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Each Barbie in Barbieland owns a large house, a car, and an extensive wardrobe. I recall my childhood attempts to fit all these items onto a shelf, longing for even more. Greta Gerwig herself emphasizes the excess of consumerism through a scene in the typical Barbie morning, where Margot Robbie playfully 'drinks' from an empty cup and 'showers' without actual water.
Did you know that the production of every 182-gram Barbie causes about 660 grams of carbon emissions, including plastic production, manufacturing, and transport? Mattel, a Barbie manufacturer, sells 58 million dolls every year, or about 100 dolls every minute, to people in 150 countries. After simple math, the alarming environmental impact of this large-scale production becomes evident.
Remember when Barbie starts thinking about her ‘death’? Well, we have good news for Barbie, but not so much for the planet. Barbie won't actually 'die,' but instead, she'll find her way to a landfill. There, her plastic body together with all her belongings will take hundreds of years to decompose, causing pollution and environmental harm.
A massive scandal rocked Twitter and angered environmental activists when Mattel revealed that they’ve been using materials from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), a company responsible for destroying Indonesian rainforests. The Barbie deforestation drama unfolded with a staged breakup between Barbie and Ken, a public Twitter argument between the former couple, and over half a million angry emails sent by outraged customers to Mattel.
In response to social criticism and concerns about its reputation, Mattel introduced a global policy aimed at preventing rainforest destruction in its supply chains. As part of their new commitments, Mattel has instructed suppliers to avoid using wood fiber from unknown sources, like companies "known to be involved in deforestation." Their plan also aims to increase the use of recycled paper and wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
From the Valentino runway and the Met Gala red carpet to Harry Styles's Coachella performance, the entire realm of fashion and pop culture has been swept up by a Barbie-pink frenzy. This isn't surprising, considering the staggering $150 million marketing budget dedicated to promoting the movie.
However, what options do consumers, who may not have the means to afford a new Valentino dress, have? Well, fast fashion companies were quick to answer this question. As with any fast-growing trends, barbie-core collections quickly filled the stocks of Shein and Fashion Nova. And while we already discussed why fast fashion should be banned at once, young girls across the globe continue to purchase hauls full of pink garments, all to recreate an iconic Barbie look.
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To wrap things up, while the Barbie movie is well-produced and addresses significant social issues, it's crucial not to blindly embrace every trend. We should remain conscious of overconsumption and vigilant about companies' social responsibilities if we hope for our tomorrow to be another ‘the best day like every day.’
