A recent suit in England over excess packaging leads me to wonder what constitutes excess. The article illustrates the continuing concern of consumers for reduction in packaging due to shortages of landfill space and the methane gas creation by landfills.

In the December 25, 2010  New York Times, Elizabeth Rosenthal writes, “British regulations on excess packaging first took effect in 2003 in an effort to reduce waste, particularly items that cannot be recycled and go into a landfill. Those rules, strengthened two years ago in response to environmental concerns and an awareness that the nation’s landfills were reaching their limits, now require that producers keep packaging to the minimum required for “products’ safety, hygiene and consumer acceptance.” ”

“That set off a nationwide experiment in rethinking how familiar products are sold, from Easter eggs to tubes of tomato paste to plastic jugs of fabric softener.”

Recognizing that security, product protection and shelf appeal are important considerations in packaging does not mean that packaging cannot be rethought. In England the WRAP agency and the Courtauld Commitment have successfully worked with consumer products companies to reduce packaging. But estimates suggest that household waste could be reduced by 50%.

Judging by how much trash and Christmas packaging my husband just took to the dump, it is pretty easy to be excessive.  We had a good time with dinners with friends and family and gift exchanges, not to mention gifts that arrived by mail. All of a sudden it hit home how important packaging is in my life and how much space it takes. All of a sudden the recycling pile and the compost pile are growing at our house.

As a society I hope we can find the right balance and that we can contribute to your improved packaging.

Happy New Year from all of us at Package Machinery.

Kate