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

Tassimo, Tassimo Pods

While at my cousin's house the other day, I noticed that he had purchased a Tassimo machine. Now, these fancy contraptions are for those people who are time-starved, and only want to make one perfect cup of a beverage, whether it is coffee or tea. Holy waste, batman! Making a perfect cup involves pouring in water into the machine, as well as placing a coffee/tea disc (there are options for organic and fair trade coffees and teas) into the machine and your "one perfect cup" is made. However, the coffee/tea disc is made of plastic as well as containing a layer of foil on top - and there is no possibility to recycle these discs.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: For the pods, likely it is convenience, the nicety of having a gadget, and keeping the tea or coffee "fresh". There is a certain futuristic Jetsons feel to it also.

Alternative considerations: Whatever happened to just boiling a bit of water in a kettle and just using a conventional tea bag, or even instant coffee?

The Tassimo discs are made by Kraft, contact Tassimo here:

Email Tassimo US here.
Email Tassimo Canadahere
Call Tassimo US and Canada here, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-877-TDISCS1 (1-877-834-7271)

Secret Clinical Strength

Today, I was at the pharmacy and I noticed this product on the shelf: Secret Clinical Strength. First of all, there were a couple elements about this product that I found strange.

a) First, it was $8!!!! That sounded like a trading up scheme to me.
b) Second, it was packaged in a box, while normal deodorant plastic containers are sufficient enough to protect the contents.
c) The claims on the point of purchase material did not seem to differ so much from conventional deodorant:

- Clinically proven, prescription-strength wetness protection
- Odor-fighting capsules that absorb odor (and release scent) all day to keep you smelling clean and fresh
- Skin-soothing conditioners

You're paying a 100% premium for "capsules"? After looking at it, I simply felt insulted that they would even put such a product on the market.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: I believe that the box is there to create a look of differentiation on the shelf from other deodorant products, which are typically just a stick in a plastic container. Similarly, I believe it is to create a premium "look" to the product.

Alternative considerations: Get rid of the box and save a couple trees. Change the label instead! A product that really is "clinical strength" or that works above and beyond that of its competition does not need a box to hide in.


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

Razor blade packaging

Although it doesn't seem like it, summer is coming up soon, and society kind of frowns upon women who have Sasquatch type legs. While I was in the razor section of the drugstore the other day, I couldn't help but realize how grossly overpackaged razors are. The above, Gillette Venus, is just an example - the package is about 4 times the size of its contents, and I did a bit more research and found out the plastic package is made out of PVC, the most toxic plastic you can find. Oy!

The Gillette Venus is not the only offender. Other examples include:

Gillette Fusion (5 blades!?)
Gillette M3Power
Gillette M3Power Nitro
Gillette Mach 3
Schick Quattro
Schick Quattro for Women
Schick Intuition


My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: A number of reasons - first is aesthetics and marketing - razors were a commodity item that used to be purchased in cardboard boxes. Now they seem to be accompanied by splashy advertising (and splashy packaging to boot) and need to have that presence on shelf. Second, is theft - I hear razors are a favourite to steal - not sure about the actual razor, but I heard that razor blades are definitely stolen often and it is the reason why when you purchase refill blades, they are behind a plastic case with an alarm system. The rigid plastic container likely makes it hard to remove the razor blades from the package.

Alternative considerations: First, replace the plastic with perhaps a #1 or #2 plastic that is less toxic. Reduce the package size a bit and double face them. There is so much that can be done that is much less harmful!

The two big offenders of these razors are Schick and Procter & Gamble:

Schick:
Schick Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 537, Neenah, WI 54957
Phone: 1.800.SHAVERS (1.800.742.8377)
Web:
http://www.shaving.com/feedback.asp

Procter & Gamble:
1 800 879 8433
Web: http://pggillette.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pggillette.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

Always Dri-Liners

Alert: Do not read on if you are faint of heart in regards to "that time of the month".

That time of the month is already bad enough as is. Everything is upsetting. You feel like everyone is out to get you. Nothing is going right. You're crampy. You have weird cravings for poutine (at least I do.) I never thought about it until after I started Packaging Probe, but did you ever notice how much garbage comes from that time of the month? Tons. Apparently, 12 BILLION pads and tampons are disposed of each year. In addition to that mental image being a little gross, can you imagine the impact all the plastic has on the environment? I shudder to think. Although I have been too wimpy as of yet to make the switch over to The Keeper, it would do some good for tampon, maxi pad and pantiliner companies to reduce their packaging even slightly - it would save them money and reduce waste overall waste. See below for the Always Dri-Liner:




My assumed rationale behind the amount of packaging: It's in a little pouch so you can sneak it into your purse somewhat subtly and conveniently. The plastic is there to protect it from the other things in your purse.

Alternative considerations: The wax paper backing is completely unnecessary - its use in the current configuration is so it doesn't stick to the plastic (!) and provides instructions on how to use the pantiliner (!). Similarly, the plastic is not really necessary. Say you spilled something in your bag - since the pantiliner is not hermetically sealed it would get wet anyway. Similarly, the plastic wrapper for the case of "sanitary disposal" does not really apply since you are throwing it in the garbage anyway. As a result, I would recommend that Always could try having a wax paper wrapper with the "instructions" on them. As a side note: the perforated sides of Always maxi pads and pantiliners are so noisy when you open the package that you might as well yell in the bathroom "EVERYONE! I AM ON MY PERIOD!!!!!!" P&G needs to get on that design flaw also. And finally, the box that it comes in has a plastic window - is it really necessary for us to see what pantiliners look like? Save the plastic and stick with the recyclable and quickly biodegradable boxboard.

Always, via Procter & Gamble
1 800 879 8433
Email them and use UPC number 03700031349 6

Tide to Go

Tide to Go came out probably 2 or 3 years ago, and I just picked up one to go travelling. My friend Min swears by it, saying that she keeps it in her purse for emergency stain situations and it makes the stains disappear on contact! Extremely convenience oriented.

Imagine my dismay when I was in my local Wal-Mart, and picked one up, but it was COVERED in plastic. There is a paper backing behind the plastic, with instructions on how to use the product.

My assumed rationale behind the amount of packaging: To have a presence on shelf.

Alternative considerations: There is enough plastic on this package to wrap the pen about 3 or 4 times. Directions can be printed on the pen itself. The plastic containing the fluid is thick enough to survive the supply chain process without the thick plastic container. The item could also be merchandised like a pen would be, covered in a thin layer of plastic instead of a thick package. This in turn would make shipments a lot more efficient to stores and save loads of cash for many people!

Tell P&G that you think the packaging of Tide to Go is wastefully packaged:

Tide, via Procter & Gamble
1 800 879 8433
Email them and use UPC number 056100032731