Brian Wynne Williams
thoughts, observations, and commentary from an entrepreneur / CEO / husband / dad / consumer / producer / fan / advisor / participant
Packaging Sucks, But it Doesn’t Have To
Author: Brian Wynne Williams30 Dec
Yesterday, Brad blogged about how hard (and painful) it is to get products out of their “plastic jails.” Today, Seth wondered if “smaller and lighter” will become “sexier” when it comes to product containers. In addition to being a healthcare issue (Brad’s hands are apparently a bloody mess) and marketing issue (heavier Gatorade bottles apparently sell better) it’s a huge environmental issue.
I think it’s up to us. If, as consumers, we decide that heavy, excessive, wasteful packaging is bad, and we show our position by buying products that embrace less waste (and by telling companies why we aren’t buying their over-packaged products) we can change this. I think it’s a worthwhile issue.
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I'm co-founder/CEO of the web consulting firm Viget Labs. I spend most of my time near Washington, D.C. with my wife and kids. Here, I write about whatever comes to mind. More about me ...
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3 Responses for "Packaging Sucks, But it Doesn’t Have To"
Is this the product Seth talks about. Here they are advertising they are the lightest 1/2 liter bottle produced.
http://www.polandspring.com/DoingOurPart/EcoShapeBottle.aspx
They are misleading the public as if it is totally recyclable, still they are consuming too much energy and charging ridiculous for just water.
Just the other day I was showing off software packaging I created for the 1st VOIP product, which was sold in retail. The year was 1994 and with internet connection speeds just up to 33.6 from 14.4 kbps, downloading software wasn’t an option, even though ours was a web based product. Back in those days, heavier was better for shelf software. We had five 3.5″ diskettes in the box and 2 printed and bound manuals. CDs were becoming popular but the theory was that the packaging would be too light, that we’d lose out to the diskette competitors because consumers attached a higher value to a heavier product. Obviously, and thankfully, consumers demanded the ease of CDs over diskettes, and they embraced the lighter packaging. Hopefully, 14 years later, consumers CAN and WILL adopt packaging that is environmentally better, and easier on the back! I’d rather carry a case of Poland Springs water than a case of Gatorade!
Face the obvious truths. Bottled water is a part of our lifestyle and is not going to go away. Nestle Waters, along with all businesses, is in the business of making money. I applaud Nestle waters for caring enough to invest in innovations to help with environmental sustainability. Yes, the bottles are plastic, and yes still a pollutant, but no more than the other plastic products I use in my day-to-day life. And what about the diapers I put my kids in? W about the wrapping paper and cards I use for gifts? What about my garbage bags? What about the car I drive and the shoes I wear? Nestle Waters’ Eco-Shape and Aquapod bottles are BEST in class and I hope that other businesses using plastic for their packaging will follow suit. In the meantime, instead of fighting a fight that we will never win by trying to eliminate bottled water… I say lets put Nestle Waters on a pedestal and show them off as to encourage other businesses to invest the time and money into innovations in terms of packaging and manufacturing. They have LEAD plants, and unlike most water, the water they take from the Earth is 99.98% replenished. So Chris and all of you out there, stop trying to change the world by beating with a stick and start trying to change the world by buying products from business who demonstrate they care enough to innovate towards a better tomorrow!
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