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While I agree with that order of operations so to speak, I'm not sure why the responsibility is pushed onto consumers. It's hard to make a choice when it comes

While I agree with that order of operations so to speak, I'm not sure why the responsibility is pushed onto consumers. It's hard to make a choice when it comes down to plastic, plastic, or plastic. What is being/can be done to get companies to stop using plastic in packaging? I understand that it is necessary for a lot of modern conveniences, but surely there is something that can be done to curb the production and use on the manufacturing side.

gambiting 8y ago
The problem is that companies use a stupidly ridiculous amount of plastic. The other week I bought some dessert which had a non-recyclable box, then each portion was in a non-recyclable plastic cup, held in place by a non-recyclable plastic tray with a non-recyclable plastic lid on each cup. Absolutely insane.
- narag 8y ago
  That's the place for regulation. Let's forbid the damned thing or at least tax it heavily. Anything not reusable? Make them pay for externalities.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
idoh 8y ago
It is completely possible to orient purchases away from plastic. In fact if someone believes that plastic is bad then they should have some stake in it by making those decisions themselves. I went through reducing my plastic use myself, it was not difficult to reduce my plastic use by 50% or more: A: look at my trash before I move it to the curb to see what plastic things were in there B: find substitute for the obvious things, like using water bottles, buying vegetables using reusable bags instead of buying them in packages, switching to a non-plastic dental floss, etc ... and that is all. Companies respond to consumer demand. You can play a part in it by orienting your demand to non plastic items.
- protonimitate 8y ago
  I'm all for personal responsibility but I don't think that there is a critical mass to invoke production changes. (Anecdotally) for every one person I know taking the time to be conscious, I know two that couldn't care less. I believe most people fall into the 'not my problem' bucket.
  - idoh 8y ago
    If someone wants to reduce plastic in the world but doesn't change their own behavior then it is hard to take them seriously.
thaumasiotes 8y ago
> What is being/can be done to get companies to stop using plastic in packaging? On the "is being done" front, order stuff from the Amazon Basics line, which packages everything in (1) cardboard that is (2) easy to open without slicing your own fingers. Products sold at retail are purposefully put in huge plastic envelopes that are nearly impossible to open. This serves two goals related to preventing shoplifting - the thief can't get the tiny item out of its packaging while in the store, and the packaging is too large to carry out of the store without being obvious. It's all downside for customers. But selling goods by mail-order doesn't have shoplifting problems, so shippers are free to use packaging that's less likely to injure the customer. The catch is that you need to buy something that is never intended to be sold retail anywhere.

gambiting 8y ago

The problem is that companies use a stupidly ridiculous amount of plastic. The other week I bought some dessert which had a non-recyclable box, then each portion was in a non-recyclable plastic cup, held in place by a non-recyclable plastic tray with a non-recyclable plastic lid on each cup. Absolutely insane.

narag 8y ago
That's the place for regulation. Let's forbid the damned thing or at least tax it heavily. Anything not reusable? Make them pay for externalities.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

idoh 8y ago

It is completely possible to orient purchases away from plastic. In fact if someone believes that plastic is bad then they should have some stake in it by making those decisions themselves. I went through reducing my plastic use myself, it was not difficult to reduce my plastic use by 50% or more: A: look at my trash before I move it to the curb to see what plastic things were in there B: find substitute for the obvious things, like using water bottles, buying vegetables using reusable bags instead of buying them in packages, switching to a non-plastic dental floss, etc ... and that is all. Companies respond to consumer demand. You can play a part in it by orienting your demand to non plastic items.

protonimitate 8y ago
I'm all for personal responsibility but I don't think that there is a critical mass to invoke production changes. (Anecdotally) for every one person I know taking the time to be conscious, I know two that couldn't care less. I believe most people fall into the 'not my problem' bucket.
- idoh 8y ago
  If someone wants to reduce plastic in the world but doesn't change their own behavior then it is hard to take them seriously.

thaumasiotes 8y ago

> What is being/can be done to get companies to stop using plastic in packaging? On the "is being done" front, order stuff from the Amazon Basics line, which packages everything in (1) cardboard that is (2) easy to open without slicing your own fingers. Products sold at retail are purposefully put in huge plastic envelopes that are nearly impossible to open. This serves two goals related to preventing shoplifting - the thief can't get the tiny item out of its packaging while in the store, and the packaging is too large to carry out of the store without being obvious. It's all downside for customers. But selling goods by mail-order doesn't have shoplifting problems, so shippers are free to use packaging that's less likely to injure the customer. The catch is that you need to buy something that is never intended to be sold retail anywhere.