I think legistlating it out of existance is not the right way. Either progive tax breaks for green products, or tax frivously packaged product.

As laudable as a decrease in package waste might be, it involves judgements in appropriate material types and design and marketing factors which make fair judgements of liability exceedingly difficult.

Why not? Because it's not the position of the government to assume it knows what's best for you.

The government's only legitimate responsibility, IMHO, is to protect us from people who wish to do us harm - that is, foreign invaders and criminals. While it could be argued that discarded non-biodegradable substances harm us, I believe that even if that is so, there are ways of dealing with this "issue" that do not involve force of the government, and the harm necessarily associated with that (lobbyists trying to get the government to make loopholes and punish competitors, bloated bureaucracy, etc.).

I was just about to post mine -

I am overwhelmed the product packaging these days. The color, the fancy packaging material, the layers of packaging boxes and papers. For me, well-established product, even without these excessive package, I am still going to buy it. So why don’t give the consumer the choice and added benefit of an enviroment friendly product and give the manufacture the choice of cost cutting.

I hope my idea can be picked up by a popular household name of consumer product. This company should start a environment friendly design of it’s package – use recycled, least possible package material and least possible print of fancy pictures. Make it dark green, blue and white with a clear logo of earth somewhere so that I can locate right away on the shelf.

I am thinking about posting negative reviews for the excessive packaged product on Amazon in the hope that may influence the consumer or its manufacture to some extent.

Yesterday I had to setup a TFT monitor, it was beautifully wrapped to protect the screen. However the VGA cable was also wrapped along it lenght in a plastic tube. There was no need for this wrapping!! And also the time spent to insert the cable into the tube was a waste.

"I am thinking about posting negative reviews for the excessive packaged product on Amazon in the hope that may influence the consumer or its manufacture to some extent."

Yes! This is what I'm saying - responding without getting the government involved. The government has clearly defined functions, and it's big enough already without giving it even more power.

Switzerland has a great law. You have the legal right to take packaging back to the shop and they have to dispose of it at their own cost.
You just tske it back the next day. Includes cardboard, bottles, plastic, cans, everything.
Expanded polystyrene has virtually disappeared (too bulky).

They also have to take consumer items back as well. That old broken monitor you can't get rid of - just take it back to the shop and walk away.

It sure concentrates the minds of the manufactures and shops if they have to pay for the disposal.

Some of the best packaging filler I've seen are plastic pockets of air. They fill a box like a tight-fitting air cast, and deflate to 1% of their inflated size.

On the other hand, plastic coffin cases that are the trend these days. They somehow become sharper than the tool used to open them. I imagine one day I'll die from blood lost slicing myself trying to open one. Or, maybe, I'll be put in jail for killing the guy who came up with the idea, with his own invention. Irony abounds.

ChrisF, thanks for the post! Fabulous idea!

The problem isn't the use of materials, it is the waste of materials. If we would recycle everything, there wouldn't be a problem with waste packaging. One solid waste company in Michigan picks up your trash for free. Yep, for free. As long as you separate the recyclables. They make their money selling the recycled materials.

Have you seen the outrageous packaging movers do? They waste tons of paper to wrap the silliest things-one to protect themselves from liability and breakage and second to spend maximum time packaging. It also serves to use up as much supplies as they can. Watch them pack a used toothbrush!