Tips for Your Home > Kitchen | Basement/Storage

Food and Product Packaging

Just about everything you buy comes in packaging. Packaging protects your purchases from damage, dirt, and tampering. It provides information about the product, its ingredients, directions for use, and how to contact the manufacturer.

But packaging is expensive and there’s a lot of it. Only about 9 percent of the cost of a box of cereal is for the cereal — the other 91 percent of the cost is for the package and advertising. Packaging makes up one-third of New York City’s waste stream. The next time you go shopping, consider some of the tips below.

Reduce

Look for products that have no or minimal packaging. For example, buy the extension cord or deodorant that comes without a box. Select fruit and vegetables that are not packaged in trays and plastic wrap. Pay for the product, not the package!

Less is better. Look for single layers and single materials in packaging. For example, choose a plain paperboard box instead of molded plastic with a card.

Buy the largest size that is practical, if you’ll use the product and have storage space. The economy size uses less packaging than multiples of the small size.

Try buying concentrates for items like juice or laundry detergent and add your own water. Why pay extra for the water?

Choose products in tubes instead of pumps. Did you know that the packaging for pump toothpastes uses three times as much plastic as a toothpaste tube?

Say “no bag, thanks” whenever you can. If you’re buying only a few small items, just put them in your purse, tote, or briefcase. Or bring your own reusable bag. At the dry cleaner, skip the film wrap, or buy a reusable garment bag.

Reuse

Reuse plastic bags. Take them back to the store on your next shopping trip; some markets offer a small rebate per bag to customers who reuse their shopping bags. Reuse plastic grocery bags to line your wastebasket or kitchen garbage can, or for tote bags.

Most large or chain retailers will soon be required to sell reusable bags, visit NYC plastic carryout bag recycling law: info for consumers for info.

Reuse plastic tubs and glass jars.  So many products come into your home in reusable containers. Thoroughly clean these containers and use them to store leftovers, pack school lunches, or store small toys or supplies.

Clean and refill plastic water bottles with juice or tap water for school lunches, outings, or car trips.

Reuse boxes, bubble wrap, and other packaging materials you have received, or ask for reusable boxes from local stores. Paper bags make excellent wrapping paper for shipping packages.

Bring your bubble wrap and polystyrene packaging peanuts to a nearby commercial packaging service like Mail Boxes, Etc. for reuse. Or try the Plastic Loosefill Council’s website for a list of convenient drop-off locations. Do not place Styrofoam® peanuts in your recycling bin.

Recycle

Look for recyclable packaging when you shop, and recycle product containers.

Choose packaging made with recycled content. Recycling works when people buy products and packaging made from your metal, glass, plastic, and paper recyclables collected by the NYC Department of Sanitation. Look for labels describing the recycled content.

Bring your plastic carryout bags back to the store, so that they can be recycled.

Most large or chain retailers will soon be required to accept plastic bags for recycling, visit NYC plastic carryout bag recycling law: info for consumers for info.

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ALSO SEE the packaging section in resources for links to additional information.

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