People are divided as to who should bear the responsibility of reducing excessive packaging of products. While some feel that customers should avoid buying excessively packaged goods, others, including myself, believe that who should be responsible for reducing the quantity of packing is manufacturers and supermarkets.
Admittedly, supporters of the former view have some arguments to justify avoiding overpackaged products in shops. One of these is the fact that customers can influence market trends through their purchasing behaviors: should customers consistently avoid heavily packaged goods, businesses are pressured to change. For example, by preferring brands with minimal or sustainable packaging, like reusable glass jars, customers can drive manufacturers and supermarkets to adopt eco-friendly packaging to retain customer loyalty. Another way customers can help reduce packaging is by supporting sustainability efforts of supermarkets and manufacturers. In other words, their choices – including, but not limited to bringing reusable bags and containers instead of heavily being heavily reliant on packaged goods – can encourage suppliers and businesses to prioritize environmentally-conscious practices. This, in turn, will reduce the demand for excessive packaging.
I, however, take issue with the idea that customers should be the only ones responsible for reducing overpacking; I think that suppliers and shop owners should reduce the amount of packaging used. Firstly, since manufacturers control the production process, they can decide the type and amount of packaging materials used, which is something out of customers’ control. Therefore, they can switch from plastic to biodegradable packaging, such as paper bags. Not only does it reduce environmental pollution, but it can also set industry standards for sustainability. Moreover, supermarkets can influence packaging demand, because they can choose what products to stock. For example. they can refuse to sell over-packaged goods or, alternatively, they can introduce bulk-buy sections. This will encourage suppliers to adopt eco-friendly packaging and impact their practices.
In conclusion, although customers can contribute to address excessive packaging problems, I support those who argue that actions taken by manufacturers and shops are of greater impact, for they manage packaging practices and can shift to more sustainable alternatives.