Aussies outraged over Kmart's 'must-have' summer product: 'Stop'

Aussies aren't happy with Kmart's latest 'must-have' product, with the retailer promoting a $5 plastic beach cup holder as a summer necessity.

There is one big glaring issue with the product that consumers and experts alike have pointed out, despite Kmart trying to promo it as a much-needed beach item this summer.

"The damage to the environment from excessive plastic use is very concerning and growing, especially as these products have a short life and when dumped as litter or landfill, break up into microplastics which harm marine animals and enter human bodies via the air and water," Jeff Angel, the director of Total Environment Centre told Yahoo Lifestyle.

"One of the biggest things that communities and nations can do is to reduce the amount of plastic being produced so we don't keep adding to the cumulative load that lasts a very long time contaminating wildlife and our bodies, which can affect our health," Jeff said.

Aussies slam tone-deaf Kmart product

Beach enthusiasts and shoppers aren't happy and let it be known in the comments section.

"Stop creating more unnecessary rubbish. We don’t need this nor our planet more plastic," one person commented. "Really!? Come on… just another creative way to create landfill … this is the stupidest thing I’ve seen in ages," another agreed.

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"Ah, yes. Really looking forward to finding these littered on my local beach on my morning walk after every warm day this summer, alongside the other discarded low-cost beach products I end up binning because people don't care if they leave this cheap stuff behind," another said. "I've found full sun shelters, inflatables, boogie boards, brand new snorkelling masks, sand play toys (SO many of these - just use your hands for sandcastles, folks!) and so many more cheap goods on the shoreline after hot days. Perhaps Kmart could consider contributing to environmental clean ups?"

Experts have also pointed out the risks associated with plastic landfill harming marine life and other wildlife.

"Plastic pollution can have a significant effect on wildlife in multiple ways. Things like plastic can be eaten by a range of species and Ingested plastic can cause significant internal injuries," Professor Dieter Hochuli from the University of Sydney told Yahoo Lifestyle.

"Microplastics are bit of hidden pollution issue, when plankton ingest them, the microplastics can then move up the food chain and even end up on our plates. There's also the degradation issue plastic can take around 1000 years to decompose which means we're stuck with the litter for a long time."

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Other consumers were also concerned about the potential damage to phones and items being stolen from the plastic beach cup holders.

"Great way to leave your phone, keys and drink in the hot sun 😅 Not to mention calling out to all those looking to steal!" someone said. "Ha, it's like a theft temptation device," another commented, with someone else adding it would make it easy for thieves to "yoink all your stuff in one go."

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