Five packaging misconceptions that matter

For protection, preservation, or even just because it’s aesthetically pleasing, packaging is with us every day. And, of course, we must all play a part in choosing how much of it we want to have in our lives – and how we ultimately dispose of it. But to do this effectively, it’s important to know what is necessary, what’s not and why things are done the way they are.

Sometimes just a simple misunderstanding can colour the way we view something, even if it has an important and useful purpose. And this is certainly the case in the world of packaging, which suffers from a lot of bad press around things that are perhaps not within the control of retailers and manufacturers. So, we’ve looked at a few of the most common misconceptions, which may well give you a different view of how things are presented, protected and arrive in our hands, homes and businesses.

Less is better

When you’re in the supermarket, buying fruit and vegetables, this is very much the case. But you are in control of gently packing and transporting your food home, making sure nothing is squashed and that the cleaning products you’ve also bought are kept as far away from your edibles as possible. However, when you buy fragile or perishable products for delivery, they need protecting. Imagine how wasteful it would be if these kinds of items were transported with the bare minimum of packaging? The levels of damage and wastage would completely outweigh the benefits of any reduction. Sometimes more is more.

Empty space is always a lazy choice

We’ve all received a delivery and gasped “look at all that wasted space!” But did you know that in the EU we have something called the ‘Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’ (PPWR)? This directive sets the rules and ratios around how much of a package can be empty space – under 50%. Which might still sound like a lot, but it can also include cushioning ‘filler’ materials, like bubble wrap or air-filled bags. And when items are sent in what is called ‘group packaging’ (i.e. bundled together for convenience), the empty space must be calculated for the entire shipment – not just one item. So, while your item might seem a little roomy, others may be balancing things out.

Customers always pay more for sustainable packaging

In isolation this might be the case, but in day-to-day reality, the products we buy are usually produced in volume. Economies of scale might be more than enough to bring the cost of sustainable packaging right down, but there are also other benefits which aren’t quite so obvious. For example, some countries offer tax incentives for using recyclable materials in packaging. Others have implemented penalties for not using them. Also, let’s not forget that companies which actively invest in sustainable packaging practices are likely to be actively pursuing other initiatives, such as waste reduction. All these things together tend to result in better prices for customers in the long-term.

Packing foam is always bad

Despite what you might have heard, Expanded Polystyrene Foam or EPS (sometimes called Styrofoam) is recyclable. It’s just really hard to do, so isn’t widely undertaken and this results in most EPS ending up in landfill. And this fact alone is the number one reason that packing foam generally has a bad rep. But because it’s a kind of cushioning that is superb for protecting highly fragile items, it didn’t take long before biodegradable or plant-based alternatives arrived on the market, and these are now in widespread use. There are compostable packing peanuts, which simply dissolve in water, as well wood-based and even mushroom versions of foam which are easily recyclable.

Consumers don’t really think about packaging

Of course we do! It is the major influencer of consumer opinion. Packaging isn’t just what we open when products land on our doorsteps, it’s all around us. On shop shelves, in advertising images, in influencers hands… it’s all about first impressions and does some really heavy lifting when it comes to a brand’s identity and values. So, even when packaging is at its most glamourous, plenty of us are still thinking about – and swayed by – what happens to it next.

Packaging, like most things in life, is all about balance. What is necessary to ensure that the product stays in perfect condition, versus what is required to sustain minimum environmental impact. And, as we can see, our immediate judgements as to what is inherently ‘good’ or unequivocally ‘bad’ aren’t always an accurate call. In the end, it is all about being informed so you can make the best choices for you.

Learn more about sustainability at Canon.