Unpacking Convenience Culture
In 2018, 87 billion packages were delivered worldwide.
That works out to 2,760 packages every second.
Packaging is temporary in nature. The purpose of packaging is to store the product, protect the product, share/highlight any important information about the product, and offer a space for branding and marketing. But in a world of increased eCommerce and unboxing experiences, it’s starting to feel like we’re buying packaging, not products.
Factor in the fuel/energy/resources required to manufacture that packaging, deliver the packaging, in some cases return that packaging (because what even is a world without free returns), and recycle packaging… and suddenly the environmental impact of your online purchase really starts adding up.
In this week’s episode of Do What You Can For The People I chat with Emma Elbaum & Stephanie Connolly (my two favorite packaging nerds) about sustainable packaging and, more importantly, convenience culture. We talk about material innovations, reusable/refillable models, packaging-as-a-service, and the systems changes that need to happen to truly tackle this problem.
THINGS MENTIONED
Parcel Shipping in 2018: https://www.statista.com/chart/10922/parcel-shipping-volume-and-parcel-spend-in-selected-countries/
Environmental Cost of Free Returns: https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/26/21031855/free-returns-environmental-cost-holiday-online-shopping-amazon
Carbon Footprint of Packaging: https://www.midlandpaper.com/the-carbon-footprint-of-packaging/#:~:text=In%20a%20partnership%20with%20Pro,326kg%20of%20CO2%20is%20emitted.
Recycling Cardboard: https://blog.publicgoods.com/how-to-recycle-cardboard/
Different Recycling Rules: https://www.americancommunities.org/how-recycling-varies-by-where-you-live/
Challenges of Reverse Logistics: https://flashglobal.com/blog/the-3-toughest-reverse-logistics-challenges-facing-coos/
How2Recycle: https://how2recycle.info/
Issues with Compostable Packaging: https://www.fastcompany.com/90393297/will-compostable-packaging-ever-be-able-to-solve-our-waste-problem
Monomaterial Packaging: https://www.wipf.ch/blog/blog-detailview/ecological-monomaterial-packaging-the-new-packaging-trend.html
Bioplastics: https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2017/12/13/the-truth-about-bioplastics/
Extended Producer Responsibility: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/epr
Post-Consumer Recycled Goods: https://www.treehugger.com/post-consumer-recycled-goods-recycling-waste-into-stuff-4858545
Issues with Glass Packaging: https://medium.com/naturehub/is-glass-packaging-actually-sustainable-3b06ac1b16b3
Emissions of Various Types of Packaging: https://www.aluminum.org/news/aluminum-cans-carry-lower-carbon-footprint-glass-or-plastic-equivalents-beverage-transportation
The Packaging Experience: https://www.johnsbyrne.com/blog/the-packaging-experience-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-create-one/
Diageo Johnnie Walker Paper Bottles: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/johnnie-walker-paper-whiskey-bottle
Right-Sizing Packaging: https://www.billerudkorsnas.com/managed-packaging/knowledge-center/articles/right-size-packaging
Blueland: https://www.blueland.com/
Algramo: https://algramo.com/en/home/
L’Oreal Refillable Model: https://www.loreal.com/en/articles/lancome-the-refillable-challenge/
Kjaer Weis Refillable Model: https://kjaerweis.com/pages/about-the-refill
Ethique: https://ethique.com/pages/our-story
Loop Store: https://loopstore.com/
Limeloop: https://www.thelimeloop.com/
Repack: https://www.originalrepack.com/
American Convenience Culture: https://relocateusa.com/the-american-convenience-culture/
Systems Thinking: https://learningforsustainability.net/systems-thinking/#:~:text=Systems%20thinking%20is%20an%20approach,other%20parts%20of%20the%20system.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Package Delivery Statistics: https://www.parcelpending.com/blog/package-delivery-statistics/
Cardboard vs. Plastic Packaging: https://theecobahn.com/packaging/plastic-vs-cardboard-packaging-a-complex-choice/
Ellen Macarthur Foundation on Reusable Packaging: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/Reuse.pdf
GET IN TOUCH WITH EMMA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaelbaum/
GET IN TOUCH WITH STEPHANIE
BE MY GUEST!
If you or someone you know would like to be featured on the show, please get in touch!