Overly Protected Packaging

May 31, 2009 · by Kaeri Zandate

When we received our first order of the new QWANtify pens, I opened the shipping package with anticipation and then dismay. . .

Shipped in a box about the size of a paper case, were 250 pens individually wrapped in a plastic bag big enough to fit a construction worker’s sandwich. They were additionally protected with enough plastic bubbles to fill the massive void in the box that didn’t contain pens. I was temporarily confused because I was sure we had ordered pens, not crystal vases. I then proceeded to fill an entire waste basket unbagging the pens with the only thought that there had to be a better way to control this waste of resources. The excess manufacturing of packaging products, additional energy used to individually bag each pen, extra shipping costs, and wasted time to unbag each pen is completely unnecessary. In hopes that I could have an effect on a small part of the system, on our second order I requested a packaging alternative from the manufacturer – which like any “change order” was met with an extra charge and request to waive responsibility of the manufacturer for any scratched pens. So, I wondered, what would be the additional cost to the manufacturer that they would feel would adequately compensate them for the additional labor of hand bundling 25 pens with a rubberband and then bagging the bundles (into the same bag previously mentioned that held an individual pen). Mind you, we have actually saved them money by reducing packaging material costs and machine energy costs to bag. The premium price we paid for this “change in the normal process” was a whopping 0.25 per bundle – in total, an additional $2.50 to our order. Is this really an accurate compensation for the additional labor required on their end – in which case, I would not want to be an employee there. Or, did the manufacturer run a cost comparison of the packaging methods, factoring in their material and energy savings, and determine that this was indeed the actual additional cost they would incur? Or, did my request to change their packaging process really have absolutely no impact on their process at all and they just wanted to charge me for the “trouble” of asking for something better?

I’ll leave you to surmise the reasoning. My point is, either way, the effort and financial cost was minimal but the savings to our resources and waste stream were invaluable. Being mindful of the commonplace practices and processes in our daily lives provides enormous opportunities to make even the smallest of changes. Individually, we control and have an effect on what we each touch daily. Collectively, statements that are made by many individuals and focused on a similar topic, will enact change.

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