Name: Yuzhu Gong Due Date: 2015/12/24
Article Title: Excessive Product Packaging
Author/Source: Scientific American
Article Title: Excessive Product Packaging
Author/Source: Scientific American
A: List major ideas, concepts or key points - point by point
- While product packaging may seem trivial, it actually has immense impact across the supply chain.
- Resource and wastage problems relating to packaging are significant given the vast quantities of products that are overdressed for no other reasons than to please the eye.
- Besides protecting the product, packaging performs the role of directly representing the brand, thus no less important than the product itself, especially for products with little differentiation by nature.
- Excessive packaging necessitates more materials, more resources to manufacture, so entailing more costs.
- The current economic climate should elicit rethink ing of the conventional; produc t packaging is no exception.
- Ultimately, the emphasis should be placed on creative and simplified use of materials.
- I nnovative and environmentally friendly packaging in Hong Kong is highlighted by a joint initiative between Maxim’s Caterers Ltd and Friends of the Earth (HK) in 2008.
- There are concerns that environmentally friendly materials are more expensive.
- A glimpse of future developments for green packaging is highlighted by the soon-to-bereleased Comparative Packaging Assessment (COMPASS) software by the US-based Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
- A longer life for the packaging is facilitated significantly by its shape and size.
- Greater consumer awareness, and perhaps more regulatory requirements on brand owners and producers, would push demand for green packaging training and expertise.
- Despite differences across markets, the undeniable global trend is towards greater environmental awareness.
B: Summarize the author's main point or idea
Summary of Author's Main Points:
The emphasis on sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t a n d l i v i n g elicits improvements in every aspect of product development, including pack aging. Furthermore, in this current economic climate, where thrift is the order of the day, there is certainly no better time to rethink the ways consumers consume and producers produce. Manufacturers and product developers may in turn question the costs involved, but it should be understood that eco-designs of the product and its packaging are specifically intended not only to enhance environmental conservation, but also to save long-term production costs. Awareness and demand will definitely grow. As brands globalise, brand owners need to be aware of the environmental laws and consumer perception of various foreign markets.
Summary of Author's Main Points:
The emphasis on sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t a n d l i v i n g elicits improvements in every aspect of product development, including pack aging. Furthermore, in this current economic climate, where thrift is the order of the day, there is certainly no better time to rethink the ways consumers consume and producers produce. Manufacturers and product developers may in turn question the costs involved, but it should be understood that eco-designs of the product and its packaging are specifically intended not only to enhance environmental conservation, but also to save long-term production costs. Awareness and demand will definitely grow. As brands globalise, brand owners need to be aware of the environmental laws and consumer perception of various foreign markets.
C: Reaction to the article
My Own Thoughts on the Topic:
Reducing the amount of packaging, which reduces CO2 emission as less power and fuel are used for production and transportation, is conceptually critical in taking the first step towards a sustainable circular economy. For the remaining part, it is a question of reusing and recycling as much as possible with disposing at the landfills as the last resort. Despite differences across markets, the undeniable global trend is towards greater environmental awareness.
My Own Thoughts on the Topic:
Reducing the amount of packaging, which reduces CO2 emission as less power and fuel are used for production and transportation, is conceptually critical in taking the first step towards a sustainable circular economy. For the remaining part, it is a question of reusing and recycling as much as possible with disposing at the landfills as the last resort. Despite differences across markets, the undeniable global trend is towards greater environmental awareness.