I was quite surprised to find these two plastic wrapped packs of three sponges, inside an outer plastic wrapper for six; but more than anything, I was very disappointed.
These six sponges needn't have anything more around them other than a small strip of paper, just to hold them together. To wrap them in so much plastic, especially in these more aware times, is frankly irresponsible.
One really would think that manufacturers would make some effort to keep up with public opinion, but alas.....
The one exterior wrapper I might have accepted as necessary. How loud does one have to shout?
Beggars belief. The supermarket we go to sells vacuum packed bacon hocks placed on a plastic tray and then wrapped in plastic wrap. I have complained more than once but was told the Manager likes them like that. I must check to see if there has been any change as there is now a lot of protest about plastics.
ReplyDeleteWe have to accept a certain amount of plastic packaging, but this was ridiculous.
DeleteModern packaging is a nightmare. Such a struggle to get at the contents too.
ReplyDeleteMany a time I've struggled with thick plastic wrapping, and nearly cut my hand off. They don't make it easy.
DeleteThe scourge of modern times, everything seems to come in at least one layer of the stuff, often two. The powers-that-be seem to have woken up to the widespread and serious environmental pollution this stuff causes, but they still haven't banned it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems impossible that we managed very well without the stuff not that many years ago
Sweets came in white paper bags, salt and sugar came in thicker blue paper bags, and your meat was wrapped in sheets of paper. Even fish and chips used to come in old newspapers!
DeleteYes, milk and pop came in glass bottles, always re-used; everybodys mum had a shopping bag, no need for the plastic superstore things.
DeleteWe get sponges wrapped like that. A real nuisance to open, plus the waste. We also get a set kept together with a cardboard band.
ReplyDeleteWe've got a long way to go to reduce the use of oh-so-handy plastic
Manufacturers should be working on solutions, night and day!
DeleteThere are almost no products packed in paper and I ask myself why.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they imagine that cutting trees is worse than polluting the oceans. At least trees can be re-planted.
DeleteI am not sure we do have to accept a certain amount of plastic packaging Cro. If we all pulled together and made enough protest by actually not buying plastic wrapped stuff for a few months I am pretty sure that plastic wrapping would reduce dramatically almost overnight. We are just not shouting loud enough.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain things that I prefer NOT to have been handled by the hoards, and therefore wrapped, but usually plastic wrappings are totally unnecessary.
DeleteJust a small thought that the over packageing of divisable product may stop a bit of shoplifting.
ReplyDeleteI reckon a determined 'pro' shoplifter would nick anything, of any size, anywhere. They have no fear.
DeleteThe matter is quite topical here, as on our tv programme War on Waste covered this last week. Aldi is one of the worst offenders but our home grown, not necessarily home owned, supermarkets weren't far behind.
ReplyDeleteIt's a worldwide concern. We're making an awful mess of this beautiful world of ours.
DeleteI agree with Weaver Pat. It requires the customer to be constantly reminding the supermarket/supplier that plastic packaging must be reduced.
ReplyDeleteThe customer holds the ace card, if we won't buy their products then the manufactures might pay attention.
I'm curious to know where the sponges were made. Maybe this information isn't required in Europe?
Alphie
I know that a lot of people in the UK remove all the wrappings at the checkout, and leave them behind.
DeleteSo many things come with an extra layer of plastic wrapping, it's not about what we think, it's about cheap ways to keep products together for easy transporting. To buy without the plastic often is far more expensive.
ReplyDeleteBut surely they don't need to be plastic. What about Rice Paper; we could then eat the wrappers afterwards.
DeleteIt’s ridiculous and so unnecessary ...... most of it isn’t needed at all ..... and, children’s toys are packaged so that you can’t get at them !!! ..... those plastic ties around each element .... at Christmas we have to have a assortment of knives and scissors at the ready !!!!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI think children's toys are some of the worst culprits. It's probably a sign of a shoddy product, that makes an armour-like protective covering so necessary.
DeleteIt isn't just how it ends up with you, it is the journey it makes before it gets there, from factory to box to pallet to container to lorry to warehouse to shop/to you. The pallet will also be shrink wrapped. It will not happen overnight that wrapping will change. We have dug a hole for ourselves. Vegetables from the Fens used to be harvested and put in hessian sacks and sent out. Then the supermarkets, starting with M&S, said they would not accept cauliflowers unless each one was shrink wrapped. So a wrapping machine was purchased. M&S was the master. And so it went on. It will take a very long time to unravel although I guess the unraveling has started behind the scenes in the design office. Meanwhile that what the holy think is no longer their concern because they put it in the recycling bin and can we see their halo is another story. Recycling in the UK is ending up here there and everywhere it shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteAnd nearly forgot, the EU banned hessian sacks, as they also did wooden apple trays from the farm, and said all these had to be plastic, for hygiene reasons.
DeleteAnd people wonder why I grow my own fruit and vegs. No wrappers, and no food miles; just a bit of earth to wash off.
DeleteI was about to say more or less the same thing as Rachel. It will take more than David Attenborough reminding us that too much plastic is used in supermarkets and causing a short-lived sense of outrage amongst middle-class shoppers to turn around manufacturing processes in this country, let alone somewhere like China. The biggest problem is that people like to see what they are buying, hence the transparent windows on everything, and the things they are buying have to travel a long way in bulk without getting damaged or contaminated. One good thing about leaving the EU could be that we might be allowed to box apples in wooden crates again.
ReplyDeleteOur pub decided to buy paper drinking straws so ordered about 500. When they arrived, they were packed in hard plastic trays in bundles of 20.
DeleteWe're all used to buying products like my sponges above, but every so often they just drive you nuts. Your straws are another perfect example.
DeleteIf you buy local organic produce there's more chance that it is not wrapped in plastic and shipped in from the far ends of the earth. In the news is the story of an American court awarding a school groundsman man $300 million for having cancer caused by the use of a Monsanto weed killer called 'Round Up'. There are another 4,000 cases similar cases awaiting judgement. I'll take my chance with unwrapped organic at the market. As for products like the illustrated sponges I would suggest removing the plastic and handing it to the cashier with words: Please can you tell me where to leave this plastic as I only want the sponges?
ReplyDeleteAs I have just replied to Rachel. I grow most of what we eat during about 8 months of the year. After that we have our conserves, but also need to buy stuff.
DeleteI saw that article about Monsanto; my first thought was 'it was bound to happen sooner or later'.
We're saving yoghurt jars for brewing our apple vinegar . Refuse to buy yoghurt in plastic.
DeleteI think the Greek Yog I buy only comes in plastic tubs... I'll have a look.
DeleteGermany's Bayer aquired Monsanto for $65 billion in June. And they say the weed killer is safe. Personally I take the opposite view as I did with German diesel cars prior to Dieselgate and was proved right. Be careful out there . . .
DeleteI'd like a decent non-plastic alternative to those plastic sponges...
ReplyDeleteAnd that as well!
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