Packaging Waste

1. I think that the primary purpose of packaging has always been to protect the product. For instance, whether a laptop box is plastered with features or is completely empty, the inside always has styrofoam that protects the computer. Almost every product, whether $10,000 or $20, needs protection during shipping and the bumps it encounters during its retail life. This is the primary role that packaging plays. Recently, packaging has evolved into an anti-theft device as well. Often times, there is some sort of chip or tag that sets off an alarm when it crosses the barrier of the doors. When a product is purchased, this tag is deactivated and the product can leave freely. Packaging has been changed because of this. Early on, the tags were placed on the outside of packages, but relatively quickly had to be placed on the insides of tear-proof packages due to people removing the tags.

2. Both of these articles advocate the changing of packages to include less material in general, and if the packages must include the same amount of material, make it recyclable. Biodegradable materials can be incorporated into more packages- that way, if the packages aren't disposed of properly, at least the materials will work their way back into the environment quickly. Less plastic should be used in everything. It seems like half the packages and products out there would be just the same if paper, cardboard, etc. were used instead. I think that there should be some type of rebate for those that only use canvas bags or recycle a certain amount of waste. The deposit program has worked well for bottles and cans, and could be applied to recycling as well.