Pogo Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 A long time gripe of mine has been how food companies will package their foods with so much excess packaging it is insane. It's annoying enough to buy a bag of chips and open it up to find that only half the bag is filled. However, I think the even bigger issue is the excess waste that this creates, and consequently, the increased damage on our environment this causes. I don't know how regulations that deal with this issue can be put in place, but it is clear to me that if we wish to aid the environment, this would be a great place to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 A long time gripe of mine has been how food companies will package their foods with so much excess packaging it is insane. It's annoying enough to buy a bag of chips and open it up to find that only half the bag is filled. However, I think the even bigger issue is the excess waste that this creates, and consequently, the increased damage on our environment this causes. I don't know how regulations that deal with this issue can be put in place, but it is clear to me that if we wish to aid the environment, this would be a great place to start. You do realize that much of the food products settle during shipping right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pogo Posted December 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 You do realize that much of the food products settle during shipping right? Sure, but I highly doubt that this is entirely to blame for the clear excess of packaging in many food products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 You do realize that much of the food products settle during shipping right? Not to mention the fact , in the case of the bag of chips, without that extra space and the gas pumped into the bag, no one would buy them since they are all broken and crushed. The main point, not the example, is valid but so much of it is designed for catching the eye and without it product sales lag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Sure, but I highly doubt that this is entirely to blame for the clear excess of packaging in many food products. you do realize that companies look to minimize cost, and packaging is a cost. If the "excess" wasn't required by either regulation or food safety the companies would not over package, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shwa Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 you do realize that companies look to minimize cost, and packaging is a cost. If the "excess" wasn't required by either regulation or food safety the companies would not over package, right? Unless packaging was part of the appeal and incentive to buy. Cheap advertising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Unless packaging was part of the appeal and incentive to buy. Cheap advertising. Like what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pogo Posted December 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Like what? The fancy pictures, slogans and all that sort of stuff that entices consumers to buy the product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 (edited) The fancy pictures, slogans and all that sort of stuff that entices consumers to buy the product. How does that add to the amount of Packaging? Brand A chip bag is the Same size as brand b the amount of graphics doesn't change the bag just the look. If they removed all graphics you would still be left with a chip bag. Same with a box of cereal or a tin of baked beans, or a box of rice, or a bag of flour, ect, ect, ect. Edited December 10, 2010 by Alta4ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 How does that add to the amount of Packaging? Actualy it can. For instance, packaging changed for a brand of cleaner from a square to one of those molded handle top type spray bottle. Since they wont stay upright they are packeged in shrink wrap w a cardboard collars on the top and bottom. But then it is 'new' and different....but all it is is a hell of a lot more packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Actualy it can. For instance, packaging changed for a brand of cleaner from a square to one of those molded handle top type spray bottle. Since they wont stay upright they are packeged in shrink wrap w a cardboard collars on the top and bottom. But then it is 'new' and different....but all it is is a hell of a lot more packaging. How likely is that product to stay around if you can't store it because the bottle won't stand up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 How likely is that product to stay around if you can't store it because the bottle won't stand up. bottle wont stand up during shipping and stocking. Once at home no problems. Surely you've seen these ? Plenty of other pacjkagin is waste on our end, not so much on the producers and retailers end. Think of small thing...tape measures,scissors, they can get lost or stolen if packaged small . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 bottle wont stand up during shipping and stocking. Once at home no problems. Surely you've seen these ? Plenty of other pacjkagin is waste on our end, not so much on the producers and retailers end. Think of small thing...tape measures,scissors, they can get lost or stolen if packaged small . They tend to come in large quantity and the boxes get recycled afterward at the store, at least that was the case 15 years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 They tend to come in large quantity and the boxes get recycled afterward at the store, at least that was the case 15 years ago Not the case now, and in fact Cdn Tire had great success last year selling a tool that "helps open those annoying plastic packages that are so impossible to open" ....remember that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Not the case now, and in fact Cdn Tire had great success last year selling a tool that "helps open those annoying plastic packages that are so impossible to open" ....remember that? Only crap comes in blister packs, i don't buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyminded Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Sure, but I highly doubt that this is entirely to blame for the clear excess of packaging in many food products. For a lot of products, certainly. As guyser said, your chips example is not a good one...but your main point is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyminded Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 you do realize that companies look to minimize cost, and packaging is a cost. If the "excess" wasn't required by either regulation or food safety the companies would not over package, right? First of all, these are somewhat contradictory sentences. Second, where do you come to the conclusion that over-packaging is some necessity? You can see simialr products pacakaged differently by different brands. Which of them are breaking "regulation" and "safety" codes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 First of all, these are somewhat contradictory sentences. Second, where do you come to the conclusion that over-packaging is some necessity? You can see simialr products pacakaged differently by different brands. Which of them are breaking "regulation" and "safety" codes? What foodstuff is over packaged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyminded Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 What foodstuff is over packaged? I wasn't specifying foodstuffs. Do you always ignore everyting by asking a question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 (edited) What foodstuff is over packaged? One could make a case for............ -cereal -crackers -frozen foodstuffs (meatballs, lasagna,chicken dinners) ....there are more.....but all have a reason, most are valid, why they do. Doesnt negate that its excessive from a consumers end. Edited December 10, 2010 by guyser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 I wasn't specifying foodstuffs. Do you always ignore everyting by asking a question? Some companies over package, and it is done so the end user gets a better product, or because the government has not yet come out with packaging regulation on a specific product and the company is being a good corporate citizen. Yes I ignore inane questions. It isn't worth my time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 One could make a case for............ -cereal -crackers -frozen foodstuffs (meatballs, lasagna,chicken dinners) ....there are more.....but all have a reason, most are valid, why they do. Doesnt negate that its excessive from a consumers end. ever buy just a bag of cereal it doesn't stand up as well and is more difficult to store. The boxes can be recycled. Same with Crackers. I'm not sure exactly what extra packaging there is on a bag of meat balls or in a dish of lasagna aside from the plastic wrapping you cook it in its packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 How about gum ? Those ridiculous plastic pill trays they come in are excessive to say the least. Why not a nice cloth bag hmmm ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alta4ever Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 How about gum ? Those ridiculous plastic pill trays they come in are excessive to say the least. Why not a nice cloth bag hmmm ? Since when is cloth non permeable, nor is it seal-able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Since when is cloth non permeable, nor is it seal-able. Right... Ok, well you got me with that one. Still, it could be less packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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