Packaging Waste -
Expensive and Unnecessary

Have you ever given packaging waste a thought? The answer is probably ’yes’ as you struggle to make your way into a packet of biscuits or a new toothbrush.

Have you ever wondered how much the packaging waste in the products you buy really cost?

The packaging industry has literally exploded. There are now plastic shrink wraps, bubble wraps, wires, staples, clamshells, styrofoam shells, plastic popcorn, plastic clips, outer boxes, inner boxes, tape and numerous other materials companies use to protect their products. The question is have they gone too far?

The amount of materials that we throw away is totally unjustified. Little wonder that re-cycling bins are stuffed to overflowing after the Christmas period.

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Apart from the fact that when you buy a product, you’re actually paying more for it because of the over abundance of outside wrapping. In addition, many people hurt themselves every year when removing this unnecessary packaging waste. When the packaging has been stripped away from a Christmas Toy, the hype and publicity are also stripped out. What is left behind is frequently very disappointing. This packaging is costing you money – lots of it!

Have you ever wondered why such a small DVD installation/instruction disc for the latest computer anti-virus system needs such a large box to protect it? If the manufacturers think that a larger box makes the buyer think they are getting more for their money, all they are doing is setting the buyer up for greater disappointment.

If they want to make their package difficult to steal, just install a small detector device which will sound an alarm unless it is de-activated at the check-out.

There are many thousands upon thousands of companies selling packaging materials, yet by comparison only a few details regarding the use of excess packaging.

So whilst the Great and the Good (?) debate this issue, is there anything ordinary Joe-public can do about this issue? When trawling around on Google it becomes apparent that the onus is placed fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the consumer.

‘Which’ consumer magazine suggested the following guidelines - with our comments in black:

Think before you buy. Do you really need this item?

Complain about packaging. Write to the manufacturer and demand a result. This is your money they have just taken from you.

Buy loose fruit and veg. See our page Street Markets

Buy refills and refillable packaging. Kenco are now advertising their coffee in sachets for easy refill of their jars. Let’s hope more manufacturers get the message!

Choose the least-packaging option. A difficult one, particularly if the item you want is the ‘best buy’ as far as design etc. are concerned. Write to the manufacturer drawing their attention to this.

If this applies to the packaging on ready meals choose the least-packaged option and see our page on Recipes.

Buy goods with recyclable packaging. This one and the next three require no explanation.

Compare pack sizes. Buy in bulk and the very obvious Buy less.

Whilst some of these options are easy to comply with, some of the above are stating the obvious.

As is pointed out in our Green Issues page this all boils down to plain old common sense.

Having spent some considerable time trawling around the Internet looking for solutions on unnecessary packaging waste, it appears that most of the Government organisations (Quangos) visited are peddling out-of-date information because their sites have not been maintained. This is technically another waste of resources – electricity and time wasted on a fruitless search and the actual point of the existence of Quangos.

If you think that packaging waste has become a big problem, just imagine how an elderly lady/man or a small child must feel when they are faced with a new product but can't open it. Packaging waste is a problem that needs to swiftly disappear and better security tags are needed to cut down on shoplifting.

Don't hold your breath on these points! Progress is likely to be slow.

Post Script

Not directly relevant to this page on Packaging Waste, but certainly not irrelevant -

Whilst the Great and the Good (?) have been pondering over Climate Change in Copenhagen, December, 2009 (and using 1200 limousines for good measure), did they not think of video conferencing as a 'greener' solution?

In addition:

Perhaps, starting on a self-help basis, if some Delegates made a root and branch pruning of the faulty systems in their own countries, and in a lot of cases, corruption, some of their problems could be very inexpensively solved. Or is that just too easy? Bob Geldorf commented a few years back that many countries do not need aid but condoms. Probably a bit basic and frank, but he has a point. See our Green debate