Packaging
So what are you eating now? Was it in a package? And where’s that
package going? Did your snack really NEED the package? Face it, there
are a lot of bad packages out there and once you start paying attention
to zero waste, you realize that packaging is a huge problem. Another
quick quiz. What weighs more? 50 kg of feathers or 100 kg of lead? O.K.
Easy answer. Of course the 100 kg of lead weighs more. But for all you
scientists out there who get density and volume, which would take up
more space? Of course the 50kg of feathers would. What’s our point?
We’re getting there. There was a mission about 20 years ago to reduce
the weight of packaging and companies reduced the weight by 50%. Great
news. But hold on, most of that reduction was due to the fact that
packaging got lighter. It still takes up loads of space in our garbage
and it’s still a huge problem. Here are some things that stuck out in
our minds about packages.
Cookies – Do they really need to come covered in plastic?
Chip Bags – There’s GOT to be a better way. Chip bags STILL end up
straight in the garbage.
Electronics products – You’d think there was a prize for having the most
packaging.
Not all companies are using wasteful packaging. We wanted to make special
mention of Macs Milk who sell milk in returnable jugs. Once upon a time, we
used to be able to return milk to be refilled as well as pop bottles, but
everything seems to have gone the way of plastic that is recycled. And while
recycling is good, we know that reuse and reduce is way better. The best
example of good packaging is the beer store who take back all their bottles,
clean them and refill them. If beer bottles, can be refilled, than why not
wine bottles? We think it’s great that wine bottles can now be returned but
are kind of curious why wine bottles can’t be refilled. Not many people we
know drink straight from the wine bottles so shouldn’t it be even easier to
refill wine bottles?
Packaging has got to get less but it will only happen if we start making
some noise. So far, over 30 letters sent and counting. We’ll let you know if
we get any responses.
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