Shoeboxes
The other day, when I was on the market for a new pair of walking shoes, I noticed something. Shoes are a classic case of overpackaging! The box and tissue paper are used excessively. It is one thing if people actually keep all their shoeboxes and use it as a storage container, but if not, I can only imagine all the trees and organochlorines used to bleach the paper to make the boxes and paper.
My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: To protect the shoes, to make it easy to find shoes in a back room, to make it easy to ship and organize shoes.
Alternative considerations: I have several:
1) Shipping shoes in boxes adds a lot of volume and weight - why not ship them in cloth bags?
2) If a box must be kept, making sure that it's made out of post-consumer waste recycled paper - I am certain that consumer would not mind if their tissue paper or shoeboxes were brown instead of glistening white.
3) Merchandising shoes on hooks for self-serve purposes such as with flipflops, and adding shoe sizes in large, bold numbers on the heel section of the insole.
4) Again if the box must be kept, adding handles to the box so it can be transported out of the store without a bag.
Contact the head offices of your favourite shoe companies and make these suggestions.
posted by hkm @ 2:55 PM
2 Comments:
Well designed packaging tends to stand the test of time - shoe boxes are one of these classics. The box fulfills the key requirements of good packaging, in a relatively eco friendly format - Allare made from recycled board. (in Europe anyway).In the UK consumers are often asked if they want the box - if not it's recycled by the retailer. Moving away from a box, looks simple but creates other problems (eg use of extra racking on vehicles which uses different resources, and increases the vehicle weight, using more fuel and increasing damaging emissions..)So the shoe box will be around for some time yet I suspect!
I've seen some creative packaging methods for shoes. But, the companies that do this are more experimental by nature (as a brand). Traditional shoe companies may not be so innovative.
Here are some ideas:
- board weight: e-flute which is used in many shoe boxes is meant to add strength. Instead of depending on heavier/stronger paperboard, why not use innovative design to lend integrity to the box structure.
- all-paper packaging: using all paper is limited thinking. Why not use a combination of materials - such as plastic (biodegradable or recyclable) caps and a lightweight paperboard tube, for an oval shaped tube/box.
- secondary use: some European kids shoes are packaged in boxes with craft 'kits' (pop-out animals and sticky tape). If boxes themselves are usable in some way, like a fun idea generator for kids, it can add more value to the otherwise disposable packaging.
- packing flat: the current standard shoe box does not easily pack flat for disposal/recycling. A collapsible design would be preferred.
Bottom line, design alone can help reduce material very quickly and also guide users to secondary uses and recycling cues.
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