The Labubu infestation is everywhere. The grinning, grotesque small elves have taken the world by storm. From a 7-meter-tall Labubu statue greeting travellers at the airport to a giant one-million-dollar doll among seized triad assets, Labubus are in every place you could think of. The craze has reached new heights: Incidents of chaotic fights breaking out in queues for Labubus have been reported, while thefts of these dolls have been increasingly common. So, how did these critters take over the world? And what could this possibly mean for us?
Before delving into the matter, we must first understand how we came to this situation.
The saga started in 2015, when the Labubu was created by artist Kasing Lung. His partnership with the Chinese retailer Pop Mart in 2019 catapulted the Labubus to global fame. Pop Mart’s genius tactic was the “blind box.” They sealed a variety of dolls in identical packaging, with the Labubu being the most coveted, adding a thrill factor that hooked millions. But their true rise to domination came in 2024, when they were spotted hanging from celebrities like Dua Lipa and Rihanna’s handbags. Since then, viral videos of the Labubus being unboxed on TikTok have propelled their popularity to the stratosphere. The cultural and economic impact has been enormous: they have been predicted to generate up to 30 billion yuan in 2025 alone, following a nearly 400% jump in net profit in the first half of the year. What’s more, the Labubus have not only been used in political campaigns, but even in religious amulets and festivals.
Seeing this immense impact, some would be impressed by its iconic status. Advocates state that Labubus are simply harmless, cute toys providing a dopamine boost and sense of community, allowing people to gain excitement through blind boxes and having an aesthetic accessory. But are they really as innocent as they seem? As the saying goes, “All that glitters is not gold”. In fact, beyond the toothy smile and golden status of the Labubu lie several disturbing complications.
Carbon, plastics, and toxic chemicals
First and foremost, a glaring problem that the Labubu trend presents is the sheer amount of waste they generate. Each doll comes in its own plastic bag and cardboard box, already creating disposable waste. The Labubus themselves are made from non-biodegradable plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The manufacturing of 1 kg of ABS alone can emit nearly 3 kg of carbon dioxide, as well as being a major contributor to microplastic waste. PVC’s production releases mercury and other harmful substances, as well as toxic compounds, after disposal. Multiply this by the 30 million Labubus manufactured monthly, and the impact on our planet is obvious. These issues are exacerbated by the blind-box model, which encourages overpurchasing of the boxes, which would all be disposed of. Evidently, the very nature of Labubus themselves are unsustainable. To put it bluntly, Labubus are poison to the planet, and the current status quo cannot continue.
Counterfeits, crime, and choking hazards
Beyond the physical impact of Labubus, the high demand for Labubus often causes people to go to great lengths to get them, often using illegal means. Fake Labubu dolls made up 90% of the £3.5m worth of fake toys seized at the UK border, with 3 out of 4 of them not meeting safety requirements. These fakes, known as “Lafufus”, often contain small, detachable parts, presenting a serious choking hazard to young children. Unlike the originals, which must meet safety standards, Lafufu manufacturers operate outside of legal frameworks for profit, producing dolls that may contain untested materials and questionable components. Furthermore, countless stores with Labubus across the globe have been burgled, including cases where children as young as 10 attempted to steal from a claw machine. If a “harmless” trend can trigger so much crime and damage, even corrupting youth, are Labubus really just adorable dolls? Or are they vessels for criminals to rake in money?
Consumerism, materialism, and overconsumption
Expanding upon the above points, the roots of all these problems lie in a single issue: how Labubus manufacture addiction through promoting and exploiting modern values like consumerism. The blind box model is designed to provoke the inner gambler in everyone, buying much more than they need in hopes of the Labubu they want. Social media then amplifies this into a herd mentality through “FOMO” (fear of missing out), where people are led to believe a Labubu is a necessity. This creates much bigger issues. We’re normalising the belief that we should immediately fulfil our material desires without any thought about the consequences, fostering a generation that’s stuck in a vicious cycle of continuous trend-chasing purchases.
Looking forward: what can we do?
It’s evident that something must be done to address these problems. The situation may seem dire, but just like all trends, the Labubu fad will inevitably die down — the question is, how can we prevent another crisis like this? The solution is simpler than you might think. First, we must break the cycle by instilling sensible consumer values in youth. This includes education on consumer manipulation and the dangers of consumerist values, encouraging youth to reject systems like blind boxes. Stricter regulations are also needed. Regulators should treat these sales as gambling and restrict them, and ensure that the desired items are sold at market price without the need for blind boxes, eliminating the problem of scalpers and overpurchases. They would also need to enforce stricter safety standards to combat counterfeits. Finally, companies like Pop Mart must be held accountable for the environmental costs, including carbon pricing and full transparency reports.
As we wait for the inevitable explosion of the next viral trend, it is crucial that we learn from the problems of the Labubu trend and actively keep trends under control. Only by this can we ensure that trends remain lighthearted and protect the well-being of both the planet and society.
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Chan Lai Man
News Commentary Competition – The 3rd Runner-up of Junior Form
St. Paul’s Co-educational College