Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › Improvements that ain't (3): Clamshell packaging
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July 13, 2012 at 5:55 pm #603978
DBPMemberI was doing market research at Costco the other day, when I was struck by the sheer volume of plastic on the shelves.
The plastic isn’t for sale, of course. It’s “free.” Whenever you buy something, they give you a hunk of extra plastic to go with it — whether you want it or not. Often, the plastic packaging weighs more than the product itself . . .
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In some cases, it’s hard to even FIND the product buried within its protective armor. In the picture below, note how tiny the camera is compared to the package.
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What are they trying to protect this shit from, anyhow? A direct hit from a bunker-buster missile?
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Of course Costco isn’t the only outfit that’s guilty of packaging overkill, but they are definitely a leader in the field. Check this out:
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Can you believe it? Putting apples in hard plastic trays! Stoo-pid!
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Costco has a well-deserved reputation for being a progressive, labor-friendly employer. But when it comes to being earth-friendly, they’re no better than Wal-Mart, and in some cases worse.
But this should surprise no one. The guiding principle of Costco, after all, is to enable Americans to gobble up resources as quickly and cheaply as possible, with no thought given to how long the earth can sustain this profligacy, or what’s to be done with all the waste.
Shame on you, Costco!
Shame on you, earth-gobblers.
Oh, BTY. You know what’s something you CAN’T buy at Costco?
—Condoms.
Gee. I wonder why . . .
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July 13, 2012 at 6:16 pm #763811
JanSParticipantJuly 13, 2012 at 6:37 pm #763812
oddrealityParticipantI hate all the packaging, everything is over packaged. You buy a bottle of vitamins and the bottle is huge but the pills barely cover the bottom. Big waste in packaging for everything. I suspect some of it is to make things bigger so they are harder to steal.
You also cannot get sardines at Costco. I’ve asked and it appears to not be possible to get them.
July 13, 2012 at 6:45 pm #763813
pattileaParticipantI also dislike the waste of resources, but I reused the apple clam shells. I made little greenhouses with them, for my seed starters!
July 13, 2012 at 9:18 pm #763814
maplesyrupParticipantNot saying I agree with the practice, but I understand why they do it in most cases. The packaging isn’t there just because, or just to get extra marketing space (though that’s a side benefit if you’re Costco or the manufacturer).
With the cameras the primary issue is probably theft. They could put them behind a counter where an employee would need to assist a customer, but that costs extra to Costco and is also a proven sales deterrent. Or they could put them on the floor with smaller packages and lose a good chunk of their profit to theft. So this is their solution.
The apple container protects the product, makes it easier to ship, allows them to sell in the unit they want (they don’t sell single apples after all), and if the product gets damaged it prevents the smushed apple from leaking through a paper container or mucking up other apples in the carton. The plastic containers do bug me though, and they take up a lot of space in the recycling bin.
From what I understand, they want the products to arrive on a single pallet, drop it in, sell through, and replace with another pallet. You could fit hundreds of small cameras on a pallet but it would take forever to sell through. Product stuck on the floor takes up valuable space that could be turning other merchandise.
The pallet model improves their efficiency. Efficient operations means they can sell products cheaply and still make a profit. Probably a necessary evil if you want to buy cheap stuff from them.
Again, not saying I like it but I understand why they do it.
July 13, 2012 at 10:02 pm #763815
TDeParticipantAmen, DPB. Preach it, brother. Not only is it a huge waste of resources, the packaging drives me crazy trying to get them open. I’ve scratched and cut myself pretty badly at times trying to get CDs, flea treatment or other small objects out the darned packaging.
July 13, 2012 at 10:05 pm #763816
Seattle TrashMemberGood post, DBP. PREACH!
I have found myself beyond interested in waste the past year or so, and I just started blogging about it. To me, clamshells and excessive plastic packaging (individually plastic wrapped toilet paper all wrapped up with more plastic) are the WORST. On top of the waste, I can’t believe how damn hard it is to open a blister pack!
July 13, 2012 at 10:17 pm #763817
JanSParticipantthere is not a scissor made that will cut those impregnable packages open…
July 13, 2012 at 10:25 pm #763818
kootchmanMemberGeez DPB… my hats off to you…. if you need to buy condoms in that bulk before the expiration date.. you da man!
July 13, 2012 at 10:34 pm #763819
VanessaParticipantThe apple/fruit plastic clamshell makes a great Christmas ornament holder…just fyi..
July 13, 2012 at 11:58 pm #763820
shed22ParticipantI think the size of the camera packaging is more about marketing the product than protecting it.
July 14, 2012 at 5:09 am #763821
SueParticipantThey actually make special openers for the clamshell packaging. The one I have isn’t ideal, but I don’t cut myself doing it anymore. Google “clamshell package opener” and there are a number of options.
But yes, I’d love to see less packaging in general.
July 14, 2012 at 5:09 pm #763822
Seattle TrashMemberJust stating this in general (no offense Sue), but that’s nuts! Now we need to buy special openers to open our plastic so we don’t cut ourselves (which I have done in the past when using scissors).
I wonder if the openers are wrapped in a clamshell as well?
July 15, 2012 at 3:00 pm #763823
SueParticipantI totally agree with you, Seattle Trash (and no offense taken). and yes, it probably was wrapped in a clamshell. :)
July 16, 2012 at 4:52 am #763824
carrieannMember“I wonder if the openers are wrapped in a clamshell as well?”
This reminds me, so much, of this frustratingly-hilariously-accurate episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm…
July 16, 2012 at 1:49 pm #763825
miwsParticipantI just know I’m likely to go ballistic, if they ever start packaging clams in those damn things! ;-)
Mike
July 16, 2012 at 3:29 pm #763826
EdSaneParticipantChina is 6 thousand miles away. Excessive packaging comes with the territory of the over abundance in cheap goods (including foodstuffs shipped here out of season). The American consumer has spoken.
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