Have you ever taken a few minutes to examine the packaging of products you use every day? Recently I did this with two products I use every day – an over-the-counter medicine and dental floss. Both of these particular products I've used for around 10 years. Here's what I found:

 

Product: Walgreens Mucus Relief (Guaifenesin 400 mg, 60 tablets)

Description: Packaging involves 5 pieces. A coated paperboard box contains a plastic bottle which is significantly smaller than the box. Unscrewing the plastic bottle cap you encounter a foil seal then a wad of cotton and finally the tablets. In addition to these materials just described adhesives were used to affix the seal and close the box.

 

Product: Johnson & Johnson REACH Cleanpaste woven floss

Description: Packaging involves 7 pieces and at least 4 different types of plastic. A clear, plastic shell with a plastic film on one side contains a white plastic box and a coated piece of paper printed with a UPC. The white plastic box contains a semi-clear plastic insert fitted with a metal cutting edge and a small semi-clear plastic ring on which the floss is actually spooled.

 

What I did 

I went online and found contact information for Walgreens and REACH customer service. I e-mailed Walgreens and called REACH. In both case I suggested that display racks like those used for lipstick and nail polish would be one way of insuring product visibility in stores and reducing packaging. I also pointed out that complex, multi-material packaging reduces recyclability. 

 

I received a response to my Walgreens comment, but nothing from REACH yet. An individual who appears to work for one of  Walgreens' suppliers replied to my message. The response briefly explained the FDA regulations and procedures used to arrive at packaging designs. This person promised to pass my comments along to the appropriate personnel. AS for the REACH floss call, it's been just over three days with no confirmation of receipt or any sort of response. I provided a mailing and an e-mail address to the representative who took my call.

 

What you can do

There are two things you can easily do about product packaging. First contact the companies of products you use. The more customers who submit concerns or suggestions about packaging, the more likely manufacturers will act. Contact information is often often on the product's packaging as well as online. It also doesn't take that much time. The process of analyzing packaging material, finding contact information and e-mailing or calling took maybe 20 minutes for each product.

 

Another action you can take is to support the "package-free" grocery store opening soon here in Austin. Find out more about the store at in.gredients.com.