Maple Leaf Ready Crisp Bacon

I won't lie, I am a huge fan of cured meats. Not only that, but bacon is probably one of my favourite things in the world. However, when I stumbled upon this Maple Leaf Ready Crisp Bacon the other day, I almost threw a fit. In theory, the product is great - bacon gets to be quite sloppy when you cook it, between having grease splatter all over the place, having your clothes smelling like bacon (some would argue that is not a bad thing), and having to refrigerate the bacon grease so it can be disposed of properly. However, the packaging for this product certainly got me riled up. It is vacuum packed, cooked bacon, with a thick cardboard box on the outside.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: The product was not in the refrigerated aisle, so I assume that it was for easy storage on a shelf in the store and for visibility. Overall, it was not functional- there was a window at the back that would let air/germs come in and not keep the product fresh.

Alternative considerations: Maple Leaf should get rid of the box and instead have a resealable plastic bag that has a hole for hanging on a peg. I think they already have this for larger sizes, but it baffles me why they wouldn't do this for their smaller product.

Consumer Hotline:
1-800-268-3708

Snail Mail:
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
PO Box 5091, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4R3

Ipod at Target

Tim Haley kindly sent in this picture of Ipod packaging at Target. Apple, with its wonderfully innovative design, has been a laggard in integrating sustainability into its products versus its other competitors (perhaps the start of this, however, may be the new MacBook). The amount of packaging for a tiny Ipod and a gift card is atrocious.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: Theft prevention, shelf presence.

Alternative considerations: Packaging shown above is not particularly functional to the end consumer. Why not put the product in a reusable, transparent security case that is either provided by Target, or designed in such a way that it is a protective case for the consumer? Either that, or partner with one of Apple's accessory companies, i.e. Belkin - and provide something of value to them?

To contact Apple, go here:

Apple Store (Consumer) (800) MY-APPLE (800-692-7753)
U.S. iPod and Mac technical support: 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273)
Canada technical support: 1-800-263-3394

Logitech Mice

I started a new job on Monday and as part of this job I got a new computer with a new mouse. I was appalled at how much packaging came with this particular mouse, and I don't think that it's an isolated incident. Now, a mouse is about 2.5 inches by 6 inches by 2 inches, and this package was about 6-8 times the size of it. On the outside was a cardboard sleeve, then there was a moulded polystyrene tray, with a PET cover on top of it where the mouse was hidden along with a manual at the back.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: To prevent theft, protect the product inside, ease of use for merchandising, and to have a "window" for the product to be seen in the store.

Alternative considerations: Logitech could have just had a singular PET 1 box and perhaps a cardboard insert with instructions on how to use the mouse. There is no need for the polystyrene tray nor the cardboard box.

To let Logitech know, send them an email here.

Alternatively, they can be contacted here:


+1 866-934-5644
Monday - Friday: 6am - 6pm PST

Americas Headquarters
6505 Kaiser Dr.
Fremont, CA 94555 USA
+1 510-795-8500
Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm PST

Top Dogs Singles

An inevitable part of the average summer BBQ involves hot dogs. One particular weekend this summer, the hot dogs pictured above were brought to a BBQ that I was at. Individually packaged hot dogs! I had never seen anything like it. Previously, I had seen hot dogs in packages of 12 or 24 packaged together, but I was a bit alarmed to see this. Particularly since we had to go through the hassle of individually unwrapping each one in order to put them on the BBQ! The instructions on the box mentioned that you just toss the hot dog, wrapper and all, into the microwave and just heat. Or of course, boil, fry or BBQ without the wrapper.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: To keep the hot dogs sanitary and fresh; convenience for people who want to bring just one hot dog on the go. Based on an analysis of other Top Dogs sub-brand products, this is usually intended for a younger, school-age audience.

Alternative considerations: To be perfectly frank (no pun intended....maybe.) I can't picture someone bringing a hot dog to go, in general. Actually, in all the situations, it doesn't make sense. At schools, kids either have a cafeteria with pre-made food, or you bring something cold like a sandwich - I don't recall ever having a microwave to heat things up with. In an office setting, do people actually bring a single hot dog for lunch and heat it in the microwave?

However, if I was to make a recommendation for single serve hot dogs, I would challenge Maple Leaf to come up with a unique reusable wiener container, perhaps collectible that is microwavable, perhaps as an on-pack bonus on large packages of hot dogs (does anyone remember the Oscar Meyer wienermobile?). This is good for brand equity, creates excitement among kids, and would reduce overall waste.

Maple Leaf is likely in a crisis situation right now because the listeriosis outbreak, however they can be contacted here:

Consumer Hotline:
1-800-268-3708

Snail Mail:
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
PO Box 5091, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4R3

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.

Blister pack chewing gum

One thing that most people carry around with them is gum - a whole multitude of brands exist - Juicy Fruit, Trident, Excel, Orbit, Eclipse, Airwaves, Dentyne, DoubleMint....the list could go on forever! Whether it is for freshening your breath or whitening your teeth, most gum comes in a standard issue plastic and aluminum blister pack covered with a cardboard sleeve. However, upon further evaluation, this is an extremely difficult thing to dispose of, and aluminum is an extremely valuable commodity to be throwing away.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: I suspect that the blister pack is to keep the gum safe, away from the elements (for example, moisture), and portion controlled. The cardboard sleeve is to convey the brand image, to give the gum an easily packed shape in trays, as well as to protect the blister pack.

Alternative considerations: When I was in Hong Kong, I noticed that they sold Wrigley's Airwaves in resealable plastic packets. No aluminum or cardboard needed. Perhaps Wrigley and other gum manufacturers may want to phase that in across their gum brands? It accommodates the protection, it conveys the brand image, it fits in a purse or pocket, and it uses less valuable materials. Similarly, gum is also great in that old school fashion of being wrapped in paper.

Make some constructive suggestions to some of the biggest gum manufacturers:

Wrigley can be contacted by email here or by snail mail here:

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
P.O. BOX 3900
Peoria, IL 61614
1 800 WRIGLEY (U.S. and Canada consumers only)

Cadbury Adams global can be contacted online here or via the Trident website here.

Olay Definity Products

While I was in the same moisturizer aisle, I of course also noticed Olay's new line of anti-aging products for older women, Olay Definity. Olay used to be a cream for old ladies (do you remember that "I was your teacher!" Miss Fitzhenry commercial? Loved it. And the slogan "Oil of Olay, Twice a Day"?), and in the span of a few years, it was transformed into the world's number one skincare brand. Pretty amazing stuff!

However, I was taking a look at this particular line of products. The dispensers are of course, like many others, made of mixed materials, but this wasn't the worst part. The outer container was made of a thick and heavy plastic, as well as slanted on the top so it could not even be stacked! Blasphemy from a waste and retailer standpoint! There was also a lot of empty space inside. Expensive for shipping.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: I believe this is all for differentiation. P&G has used cardboard previously to protect its skincare products without any sort of negative repercussion. I could not find a resin identification code on the package and it looked to be made of two different kinds of plastic - very hard to recycle.

Alternative considerations: Return to cardboard usage, if an outer pack is needed. Use a cube shape to cause less headaches for retailers. Cubes can be differentiated too!

These are the Definity Products in round plastic cases:

Olay Definity Intense Hydrating Cream
Olay Definity Refining Lotion with UV Protection
Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer
Olay Definity Night Restorative Sleep Cream
Olay Definity Reenrgizing Serum

Let Procter & Gamble know about their wasteful packaging - they are planning to get into more sustainable products and this will help them in their mission!

Procter & Gamble:
1 800 879 8433
Web: http://pg.custhelp.com

Olay:
1-800-285-5170
Web: http://olay.custhelp.com