Consumable Waste Plan
How much of these foods come in different types of packaging?
Some foods that I usually eat consist of packaging like:
- Gummy snacks
- Granola Bars
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate
- Seaweed
Overall, 2/3 of the foods I eat contain extra packaging.
What kind of packaging materials are usually used (styrofoam, cardboard, plastic, bags, boxes, etc.)?
- Cardboard
- Plastic
- Boxes
- Bags
- Paper bag
- Glass
- Aluminum
- Foil
- Tin plates
- Laminates
Why do you think that all of these materials were chosen specifically for the products purchased?
- Ensure high standard
- Function – what the product does
- Ease of manufacturing/durability – makes sure it lasts a long time
- Design/aesthetic – to make product look good, attract consumer
How is packaging both positive and negative for the consumer (the person using it)?
Positive aspects
- Individually wrapped snacks for special events
- Health/hygiene reasons
- Allergies
Negative aspects
- Waste of material
- Extra trash
- Pollution
- Harmful for environment
What happens to these packaging materials once we have eaten the food inside?
The packaging materials either go to the trash or is recycled into something else or taken to a landfill.
Where is the packaging waste after one day? One year? One hundred years?
Recycled into a different product packaging or left in landfill and ocean.
What happens to the food waste?
- Donation
- Composting
- Disposed in landfills
Provide 3-4 suggestions for ways that consumers can decrease the amount of waste we create.
Suggestions include:
- Avoid unnecessary packaging
- Have food wrapped in 2 different ways (one version without the extra packaging, one version with the extra packaging – could cost more)
- Use reusable materials/secondhand items