Sustainable Fatherhood: 5 Things I Stopped Buying as a Dad

Sure, I still buy things (because toddlers don’t care about compost bins) but these are my red lines. Use this as your dad cheat-sheet (or plant it in your partner’s brain for future arguments).

1. Single‑use party favours & cheap “goodie bags”

What I used to do: Fill goodie bags with plastic toys, stickers, random sweets, and cheap trinkets after every birthday.What I stopped doing: Buying those bawdy little bits of plastic that break in five seconds or get stuffed into a drawer.

Why this was low-hanging fruit for sustainable change:

• Those little plastic toys and balloons are usually non‑recyclable and end up in landfill. In Australia, around 27 million toys are discarded annually, with ~87,000 tonnes going to landfill.

• They teach kids that celebration = consumption.

• There are fun, sustainable alternatives: plantable seed cards, small blocks from second‑hand toy swaps, or letting kids pick one preloved item from your stash.

Dad hack: Keep a “party favour box” of preloved, small toys you’ve rescued. Reuse them across birthdays or swap them with other parents.

2. New plastic toys everywhere (especially peak hype ones)

What I used to do: Grab whatever “hot toy” is trending - usually something plastic, battery‑powered and flashy.What I stopped doing: Automatically buying brand new plastic toys; switching to sustainable toys or second‑hand ones.

Why I stopped:

• Wooden toys (if sustainably sourced) are durable, safer, and biodegradable.

• When you commit to toy swapping or toy libraries, you sidestep the “must buy new” trap.

Dad hack: Before buying, wait 24 hours. Search via your local toy‑swap group or marketplace for a preloved version first. Either you’ll find it cheaper and with less guilt, or after waiting long enough, your kids will have lost interest.

3. Excessive “mini versions” of everything

What I used to buy: Mini sunscreens, mini shampoos, mini toiletries, even mini puddle‑jump boots. They’re convenient, but they’re also a one‑way ticket to landfill (or single‑use plastic recycling bins).What I stopped: Except for travel-sized essentials, I steer clear of mini versions of things. I stick to refillable or bulk where possible.

Why this matters:

• Mini bottles often use more packaging per mL of product.

• They can't easily be refilled (or ethically recycled).

• Shifting to bulk or family‑size reduces both cost and waste.

Dad hack: Let your kid use the “adult” shampoo in the same bathroom bottle (it’s not a crime). Or decant into a reused pump bottle. The less single-use shrapnel you lug around, the better.

4. New clothes every season (especially “fast fashion” kidswear)

What I used to do: Grab the latest cute onesie, seasonal jacket, or novelty tee. Yes, kids do grow fast, especially when they’re younger. But that doesn’t mean they need quite as many new clothes as people would like you to think.What I stopped doing: Choosing quantity over quality, buying garments that won’t last or be passed down.

My sustainable pivot:

• I default to second‑hand or hand‑me‑downs.

• When purchasing new, I aim for durability, organic or recycled fabrics, neutral colours for handdownability.

• Resist the siren call of “just in case they spill” - stains can be treated.

Dad hack: Rotate a capsule wardrobe of 8–10 trusted items. I now see the fun in the challenge: “how many weeks can I hit school drop‑off using zero new clothes?”

5. Disposable “fun” gear  -  single‑use drink bottles, cutlery, plates

What I used to buy: Disposable cutlery sets, plastic plates, individual juice pouches. Picnics, playdates, holiday camps - they all used to justify buying single‑use forks, plates, juice boxes, water bottles.What I no longer buy: Single-use anything we can reasonably replace with reusable versions.

Payoffs:

• Reduces waste immediately.

• Instills in kids the habit of “bring your own.”

• You’ll often save money long-term.

Dad hack: Invest in a decent picnic set with stainless steel cutlery, collapsible BPA‑free cups, a cloth napkin, reusable snack bags. When you offer your kid a juice pouch again, they’ll look at you funny.

Adopting sustainable fatherhood doesn’t mean going full tree-hugger overnight. It’s simply deciding: “Is this buy necessary? Can I get it second‑hand or in a greener way?” For each of those five categories, I’ve deliberately drawn a line in the sand - no more unconscious purchases.

If every dad (or caretaker) did this, it adds up: fewer plastics, less waste, more meaning in the stuff we do bring home. And the side benefit? Less clutter, fewer regrets, a clearer conscience - and maybe some more time (and money) for the things that actually matter (like hiding in the garage pretending to fix the car).