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Woolworths Lion King Ooshies Have Started Washing Up On Aussie Beaches

Woolworths Lion King Ooshies Have Started Washing Up On Aussie Beaches

It's prompted a furious backlash from Aussies.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

There's been loads of people complaining about Woolworths' Lion King Ooshies. Some of those criticisms are about the unnecessary use of plastic, others target the intense buying, swapping and selling on social media and others just think they're stupid.

While they might bring joy to some people, there is a growing voice wanting them banned. If there was a reason to get rid of them, then Sea Shepherd has just found it.

As part of the organisation's beach clean-up program, a woman found one of the Ooshies washed ashore on a beach on the Gold Coast.

Tamra, who discovered the toy, said: "I immediately recognised it as it was bright orange! I was so disappointed to see it already littered on the beach because they have only been in circulation for a few weeks.

"As someone who works with children I think it's so disappointing that we are sending these messages to children that we can consume high quantities of single use, non-biodegrade plastics (even single use toys) for no real purpose which then have impacts for our environment - even within a few days or weeks of obtaining it. I think disappointed is the exact word of how I felt."

The bright orange Ooshie would be hard to miss on a golden sandy beach and it's images like these that show why companies need to be careful when they do promotional projects.

Sea Shepherd wrote on their Facebook page: "We all need to work together to stem the tide of plastics finding their way into the environment.

"That doesn't just mean the general public many of whom are already looking at ways to reduce their plastic footprint and are helping to clean up our beaches, but in particular to businesses, industry and government who have incredible power and the opportunity to make smart and sustainable forward thinking decisions."

Credit Woolworths
Credit Woolworths

The organisation says this is the second time they've discovered an Aussie supermarket promotional toy on a beach.

The post has attracted hundreds of likes, shares and comments, with many people royally pissed off.

"Seriously Woolworths lift your game. This cheap gimmicky crap that is now destined to ruin our environment needs to stop!" wrote one person.

Woolies has told people that the little Ooshies are recyclable. If they need to get rid of excess ones, they can head into a store and they'll be told where's best to get rid of them in the best way possible.

Featured Image Credit: Sea Shepherd/Facebook

Topics: Interesting, Community, Australia