Tales in overpackaging

[gemfyre]

Rememeber how yesterday I was talking about unneccessary waste? Here's an example.

UHT milk cartons used to be a case of unfold one edge, snip off the corner, pour your milk.

Now we have a plastic nozzle, a plastic screw cap, and a plastic ring pull that pulls off a bit of foil sealing up the milk. Completely unneccessary. Sure, it makes pouring neater/easier - but at what cost?

There also seems to be less emphasis on flattening the cartons before throwing them out. Most cartons don't even have the bottom unfoldable bits anymore to make flattening even more easy.

Comments

[firvulag.livejournal.com]

I don't actually think it makes it easier or neater to pour. More consistent from packet to packet maybe, and not needing another implement to open.

Can still flatten them fairly well without the intentions, but the plastic top does leave some extra height and would need separating out to recycle.

another one is the 10 packs of yukult with the wrapping around 2 5 packs that are wrapped up. and weren't each of the 5 packs sitting in a cardboard tray at one point? at least they weren't individually wrapped inside that i guess...

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Yakult 10 packs aren't individually wrapped (they used to be 2 wrapped 5 packs wrapped in ANOTHER piece of plastic, but now they're just in one bit). The problem with Yakult is the damn straws they put in the packaging - why the hell would I need a straw to drink something that is two mouthfuls?

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

Those twist tops are heaps better if you are travelling/camping though, because you can close them back up and they don't leak :P

[stawberi.livejournal.com]

I hate those ones that have the cap that flips up, with the foil underneath it. Goes effing everywhere - would much prefer to snip off a corner.

[pixidance.livejournal.com]

cartons have been like that in the US for ages! The screw on lids are handy because you can turn the carton sideways in your fridge BUT they're certainly not necessary :P I'd prefer less plastic waste, myself