It's all just marketing, really. Product packaging has gone way beyond its original purpose of safety and freshness, and has turned into a nightmare. Packages are getting more complex, which means higher waste levels. What's worse, these new designs often make recycling more difficult.

One-third of all non-industrial waste in the US (and other developed countries) consists of product packaging. NYC.gov even tells us that for every dollar we spent on cereal, only 9 cents goes to pay for the food. The other 91 cents cover packaging and advertising.

You may feel like this has nothing to do with you…after all, you don't design the packages. However, you still have a lot of impact in this area. Don't forget that consumers have huge muscles with companies — we vote with our wallets.

The first thing you'll want to do is a product packaging assessment or audit. You can do this in different ways. The first option is to look over your grocery cart or through your (reusable) grocery bags when you get home. How much product packaging do you see? The second option is to analyze your trash. That's right - you'll need to look through your trash, but we assure you, it's a very worth while exercise. (In fact, Green Options own Kelli Best-Oliver did a waste audit with her entire school!)

Now that you've seen the amount of packaging you purchase or toss out, sit down and think about how you could decrease that amount. The California IWMB recommends that we shop with the 4 R's in mind:

1) Reduce: Buy more product, less packaging. BYOBag. Shop with a list to avoid impulse buys.

2) Reuse: Think about reusable containers. Buy in concentrate and make juice in your own pitchers & bottles.

3) Recycle: If you must buy something that is not reusable, check to see if the container is recyclable.

4) BUY Recycled: Close the loop and seek out packaging that utilizes recycled materials.

Rebecca says: I remember when Lunchables were invented - everyone went crazy for them. We know better now - you can get fresher ingredients and less packaging if you send lunch the "old-fashioned" way. I also did a waste audit, and it was called the Week of Trash. Even though I consider myself to buy very little in terms of product packaging, it still made up a huge portion of the volume of my waste.

Resources:

EPA Product Stewardship, Packaging

NYCWastele$$

Grocery Shopping with the 4 Rs in Mind

Green Options Blog: Cut back on packaging with a waste-free lunch

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