3 ms·

re-using instead of recycling the containers is obviously a good idea, but it's not really an invention, it's how things used to be in the past. I applaud the c

re-using instead of recycling the containers is obviously a good idea, but it's not really an invention, it's how things used to be in the past. I applaud the concept, but really it is governments who should be applying a differential tax rate for products in re-use containers compared to those in "disposable" containers. I'm afraid their business model is really just making a walled garden re-use system, which will really only serve to entrench brand loyalty, for those brands they allow in their re-use cartel. I can easily imagine them having received or intending to receive government subsidies for this "green" brand loyalty project. If this is the case the governments would have been better off directly organizing this in a level playing field. It won't be green if the bulk of the population can not afford these brand products, and if the off-brand products are individually too small to each organize their own re-use systems -which will also take up shop space etc for shops that co-operate- so really it should be a brand-agnostic system, and instead of subsidizing a couple of top brands for their green intentions, we should make sure that we return to re-use containers we had in the past, but with a level playing field so that it becomes easy for any brand to partake and select containers from the government catalogue, or an easy process to negotiate new containers that better meet their demands...

ykevinator 8y ago
Totally right about govt tax incentives and punishments but we need some kind of marketplace to allow innovation too. It should be easy entry for new producers to join the container ecosystem.
cotelletta 8y ago
i.e. "Bottle deposits. You've invented bottle deposits." A quick Google shows that the US is one of the few developed countries where this is not widespread and has been lobbied against. Here there's automated collection machines in most supermarkets, and drinks are sold in reusable plastic crates holding glass bottles.
- DoctorOetker 8y ago
  Yes, I totally agree there is no innovation, it's always just stalling to come up with a standard against standardization. Like the limited vendor ID space in USB, etc Here in Belgium the bottles get washed for a few cycles, and then remolten for a few cycles. And we also have the automated bottle collectors etc... Still I think there can be improvement with other containers for other product types as well, but it should really be standardized sizes, otherwise it's just sabotaging smaller shops who don't have the space to store 100 different kinds of crates for the containers, and smaller suppliers who could be blocked or taxed by the reuse container cartel. This is why it should be a government role to coordinate the standardization so that it is open for any producers to join in a symmetric way. Then even smaller shops or neighborhood collection sites can cooperate with only limited types of crates. I'm thinking it would need some kind of sizing standard similar to A2,A3,A4,A5 paper sizes, but instead of areas, volumetric dimensional standardization. Give each container a unique QR style code, so you can look up the product description and so on...
Dirlewanger 8y ago
It's like no one in legislative bodies have ever heard of the concept of taxing negative externalities. Want plastic bags to go away? Levy a tax on them, and raise it every other year to correct business/end-user behavior. Doesn't the UK do this to an extent?

ykevinator 8y ago

Totally right about govt tax incentives and punishments but we need some kind of marketplace to allow innovation too. It should be easy entry for new producers to join the container ecosystem.

cotelletta 8y ago

i.e. "Bottle deposits. You've invented bottle deposits." A quick Google shows that the US is one of the few developed countries where this is not widespread and has been lobbied against. Here there's automated collection machines in most supermarkets, and drinks are sold in reusable plastic crates holding glass bottles.

DoctorOetker 8y ago
Yes, I totally agree there is no innovation, it's always just stalling to come up with a standard against standardization. Like the limited vendor ID space in USB, etc Here in Belgium the bottles get washed for a few cycles, and then remolten for a few cycles. And we also have the automated bottle collectors etc... Still I think there can be improvement with other containers for other product types as well, but it should really be standardized sizes, otherwise it's just sabotaging smaller shops who don't have the space to store 100 different kinds of crates for the containers, and smaller suppliers who could be blocked or taxed by the reuse container cartel. This is why it should be a government role to coordinate the standardization so that it is open for any producers to join in a symmetric way. Then even smaller shops or neighborhood collection sites can cooperate with only limited types of crates. I'm thinking it would need some kind of sizing standard similar to A2,A3,A4,A5 paper sizes, but instead of areas, volumetric dimensional standardization. Give each container a unique QR style code, so you can look up the product description and so on...

Dirlewanger 8y ago

It's like no one in legislative bodies have ever heard of the concept of taxing negative externalities. Want plastic bags to go away? Levy a tax on them, and raise it every other year to correct business/end-user behavior. Doesn't the UK do this to an extent?