Landfills are filled with millions of tons of unnecessary product packaging. Effective package design can help influence consumers, but we all pay a significant long-term environmental cost. Here are some “every day” food-related things you can do in response to the way your products are wrapped.
First, buy in bulk as often as possible. In the case of fruits and vegetables, purchase fresh instead of cans and jars. Size appropriately – that can mean buying a gallon of milk instead of two half gallons. For beef, poultry and fish, try to buy directly at the butcher counter so you can eliminate waste and in some cases reduce packaging. Unsliced bread and cheese cut out the energy and resources used for wrapping. Finally – don’t forget to reuse and recycle. Paper bags, jars and cars can serve multiple purposes before they’ve worn out their welcome.