Friday, January 11, 2008

Packaging

Today it is 52 degrees and raining cats and dogs in Philadelphia. Is it not January? Global Warming is a reality! "Raining cats and dogs" - sayings like that - ever wonder what they mean and their origin? Anyway, good day to do some blogging.

I have lamented (okay -ranted) on the subject of packaging before. But something has got to be done. Yesterday, got myself overwhelmed with it all. Started off trying to open up a DVD. First had to remove it out of a cardboard sleeve, cut open the plastic wrap that static keep it sticking to my fingers, peel off three strips of security tape around the edges that resisted several efforts, and finally snap the DVD out of the case that would not release. Twenty minutes later succeeded with a pile of trash and frustration. Oh, cost of DVD was $6.99 - not a national treasure to warrant such security.

Time for lunch. Thought a nice ham and cheese sandwich would be nice. Ham was sealed in a plastic type of pouch. "Tear here to open" - not unless you are Hercules. Ended up cutting along the dotted line. Resealable package now open - not - had to literally cut around the edge of the ham slices to remove. Package now is now not resealable so into the trash. Now for the cheese - similar exercise but each piece of cheese is separated by a piece of paper. Does someone have a phobia of two pieces of cheese touching each other? Mustard jar - only a pair of pliers could remove the lid. Thankfully, the bread wrap torn open. Pickles, not even going to try to open that jar.

Now at this point, you would think that I had enough. But no, just had got myself a new action figure and was anxious to display it. How do you even go about breaking open the hard plastic clam shell? Scissors, knife, screwdriver, hammer, hacksaw - no way. Finally got a box cutter to work. Be very careful about ones fingers, etc and do it on a cutting board. Then had the joy of untwisting twelve twist ties, several pieces of tape and string. Are we done yet? No, the back of the head is glued to the cardboard backing. How to remove without cutting a piece of hair out. Ah, manicure scissors very carefully. Finally, Captain Jack Sparrow - you are mine, mine at last!

Did I mention that I live in an apartment building that limits how much trash can be put out in one day. Guess that I will be apportioning my out over the next few days. Seriously though what a terrible waste of resources and how many products have been damaged in the unpackaging. The madness has got to stop before I myself go stark raving MAD! Now, where is that triple sealed package of cookies?

1 comment:

Bryan Kolesar said...

Speaking of packaging, have you kept up on this crazy saga of milk packaging/labeling?!