An Avalanche of Paper and Plastic: Some of 2005’s Worst Offenders
There is a huge volume of offending products covering a wide range of consumables, everything from movies to food. But some powerful companies are setting bad examples of wastefulness in their respective markets. A few of the biggest companies are listed here, with contact information provided for each. Could a deluge of complaints change the way these companies package their products? It’s up to the consumer to let manufacturers know they are dissatisfied with the products they consider buying. Company: Universal Studios Creates a Landfill Because: Each DVD comes in a cardboard slipcover, which is identical to the cover on the case. The slipcover is worthless, and goes straight into the trash bin. Sure, that cover could be recycled, if the consumer is interested in separating trash. Contact Information: None available, but www.universalstudios.com has a Corporate section where you can fill out a web-based email form to leave comments. Company: Nonesuch Records Creates a Landfill Because: It’s another entertainment product with a redundant cardboard slipcover destined for the trash. This one is actually functional as it holds a booklet insert that is separate from the CD package, but many contemporary artists have set a better standard by incorporating the book into the CD packaging. The cardboard slipcase for Smiley Smile is still thrown in the trash by non-collectors and those who read the booklet once or twice and set it aside. Contact Information: info@nonesuch.com Company: Fujifilm Creates a Landfill Because: Fujifilm’s ten DVD-R pack comes in a cardboard box, and the individual discs are in shrink-wrapped jewel cases. There is no reason to retail a box of discs with such redundant packaging. The cardboard box is sealed to prevent pilferage, the individual shrink-wrapping offers no additional protection to the discs from impact or pilferage. Contact Information: Fujifilm Contact Center 1-800-800-3854 Company: Starbucks Creates a Landfill Because: The plastic seal around the cap and neck of the bottle is wasteful. The bottle uses a pop-up cap, clearly warning customers not to drink the product if the seal is broken. Plenty of other products set a safety standard with this feature without the use of additional plastic packaging. Milk is one of the most widely purchased food staples in America, and very susceptible to spoilage, but isn’t sold with a pop-up cap or the plastic sleeve. Contact Information: Starbucks Retail Customer Relations (800) 235-2883 Company: United States Postal Service Creates a Landfill Because: The labels customers are required to fill out and place on the cardboard Priority Mail boxes could be replaced. The labels and forms should be printed ON the cardboard boxes, eliminating the need for all that paper. This simple innovation in packaging could save USPS hundreds of thousands of dollars in paper costs each year. Contact information: 1-800-ASK-USPS® or (800) 275-877 A single customer complaint may not be enough at any of these agencies to promote lasting change, but people who band together in their communities to make a difference seem to have a way of creating change. Just ask conservative Christians who banded together in the 80’s to pressure 7-11 to stop selling Playboy, Hustler and other ‘adult’ magazines in the same space where other magazines were located. Take a look at ANY 7-11 today, and not only are the adult mags behind the counter, they are all sealed up in plastic, thanks in part to grass-roots lobbyists. Long Island has many environmental groups; if you are interested in “green issues” you may wish to contact a few of the organizations listed here. All of them are affected in some way by the problems created by wasteful packaging-- litter, landfills, excessive use of plastics and other materials, etc. The North Fork Environmental Council, located at http://www.nfec1.org. This organization is dedicated to preserving North Fork by offering what the website calls “an objective voice of reason.” This group features a ‘watchdog’ program that allows citizens to report environmental abuses. NFEC has a place for both paying members and volunteers. Starflower Experiences, at http://www.starflowerexperiences.org teaches people how to, according to the web site, “help people understand, appreciate, and live more in harmony with the earth's life systems”. This group offers green living seminars and special nature events for people of all ages, and offers many activities in Melville. Quality Parks, at http://www.qualityparks.org/index.html, is dedicated to preserving the beauty and cleanliness of parks across the nation. While not a LI-specific resource, parks are one of the many public resources affected by wasteful packaging issues. The Long Island Open Space Trust, at http://www.liopenspace.org is devoted to helping landowners and developers make the best use of Long Island land. This non-profit organization seeks to help use the land and preserve it for future generations. The Open Space Trust web site states the OPST “is aware of the need to balance the conflicting forces being brought to bear on land owners and developers associated with Long Island's growth.” Joe Wallace
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Packaging is everywhere. Everything we buy these days is wrapped in plastic, cardboard and paper. Some of it is supposed to curb shoplifting, some is for cleanliness and safety, and some of it is just plain unnecessary. Why do vitamin companies sell you a large bottle that is only half-full of product? Why put plastic bags in a cardboard box? Whose bright idea was it to stuff wads of paper inside every pair of shoes we buy? 