Societal standards are constantly changing, and with that comes shifts in consumer habits. With millennials being more environmentally and socially conscious, there are certain products that no longer have a place on the shelves. Here are 18 things millennials say we shouldn’t be purchasing anymore.
Bottled Water
Millennials were the first generation to become fully aware of the environmental impact that items such as bottled water in single-use plastic can have, discouraging their use. A study by CNN also found that bottled water in the US is filled with nano-plastics, with quantities up to 100 times more than expected.
Disposable Toothbrushes
The rising costs of dental surgery have seen younger people become more conscious about the dental products they use. Electric toothbrushes are becoming more common, both because of the fact they are more efficient and because they do less environmental damage.
Printed Books
Once again, the resurgence of environmental awareness is causing millennials to rethink their shopping habits. They are far more likely to purchase digital books, which don’t require the use of paper. It’s also more convenient for them, as it doesn’t involve waiting for online deliveries or leaving the house to visit a bookstore.
Traditional Taxi Rides
With the sheer convenience of apps such as Uber and Lyft, millennials are passing up the option to stand at the side of the road trying to hail a traditional taxi. It helps that the pre-paid taxis are often cheaper than their traditional counterparts.
Meat
Millennials’ attitudes toward meat consumption have shifted over the past decade as the environmental impact of a carnivorous lifestyle has come to light. As Forbes suggests, millennials have driven the worldwide shift away from meat consumption, with 70% of the world’s population cutting down on meat or ditching it altogether.
Diamond Rings
Young millennial couples are far less likely to wear a diamond engagement ring on their finger these days, not for financial reasons but for ethical reasons. Concerns over the sourcing of diamonds have caused millennials to opt for alternative stones, putting a dent in the diamond market.
Landline Phones
Thanks to almost everyone owning their own mobile phone, there is no longer a need to shell out on a landline phone package. Soon enough, landline phones will likely not even be available for purchase, becoming a relic of a less-connected past.
Fast Fashion
Due to major concerns about the labor used to make fast-fashion clothing, millennials are beginning to turn their backs on it, opting for more expensive but ethically sourced garments. There are also concerns regarding the industry’s environmental impact, pushing the younger generation to more sustainable options such as thrift store clothing.
Non-Organic Produce
Unfortunately, the US has some of the lowest food standards in the world. These include washing chicken with chlorine and allowing the use of food dyes and artificial sweeteners, practices that the rest of the world makes illegal. Millennials are wise to this, hence why they’re fully in favor of organic produce.
Single-Use Plastic
Single-use plastics, whether they are used as cutlery, drinking vessels, bottles, or straws, are seeing a very obvious decline in usage across the world. Their environmental impact is clear, and the effect that plastic in the ocean is having on wildlife has been displayed for all to see.
Chain Coffee
Chain coffee shops have gone down in the estimations of millennials, who would prefer to spend their money in small, independent establishments. Smaller shops often tend to have reusable cup incentives to save themselves resources, making them better for the environment.
Cow’s Milk
Veganism, health reasons, and the rise of genuinely tasty alternatives have all contributed to the downfall of cow’s milk in modern society. Nowadays, soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk, to name three options, are all taking the throne from traditional milk products.
Souvenirs
Millennials are understandably refusing to buy cheap, mass-produced souvenirs when visiting cities, opting to bring more personal gifts back home with them. They understand the importance of buying local products from independent sellers, realizing the boost it has to local economies.
Physical Media
As you may have expected, sales of physical media products like DVDs are at an all-time low, thanks to the emergence, affordability, and convenience of streaming sites. Since the end of the 2010s, CNBC reports that DVD sales have dropped by 86%.
Manual Cars
Unlike most other nations in the world, the US automobile industry is almost entirely focused on producing automatic vehicles, with most millennials unaware of how to drive manual cars. The BBC cites long, straight American roads as the primary reason for this, as opposed to more compact, bendy European roads.
Newspapers
Traditional print journalism is on its last legs, with people no longer having an interest in reading yesterday’s news. It also works out cheaper to buy a monthly digital subscription to a news site rather than paying for a newspaper subscription due to paper, ink, and postage costs.
Cable TV
At one point, it looked as though cable television would forever be the answer to the public’s entertainment needs, knocking radio off its perch. Well, now it is time for cable to get a taste of its own medicine, as it’s rapidly becoming overtaken by streaming services.
Cheap Beer
Last but not least, with so many independent breweries offering top-quality beer for reasonable prices, albeit slightly more expensive, the end of cheap, mass-produced beer is nigh. No longer will young people have their nights out hamstrung by the horror that is Bud Light.