Does it burn you up (pun intended) that a small thing you might want to buy comes in a massive package? First, let's get clear that this trend to excessive packaging in recent years IS burning us all up. That packaging is a waste of carbon every step of the way, from manufacture, through distribution, to collection and disposal as part of the waste stream. And if it is burned as part of municipal 'waste to energy' projects it even moreso contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

So why does all this excessive packaging exist? How did it come about? Well, be assured it was not created for our convenience or benefit. While there are likely many small reasons, the major two that we can see are a) creating illusions about the product you are buying, that it is 'worth more' by dint of seemingly larger size or the advertising images on the package, and b) as a theft control measure.

If all this excessive packaging is not really for our benefit, but rather for the benefit of those selling us the goods, why not leave the packaging for them to deal with! This was demonstrated to me recently when a woman buying some nicotine gum to help her quit smoking (go for it!) at the Costco warehouse outlet had the checkout person cut the huge plastic 'clamshell' packaging of the small box of gum. She took the product and left the packaging with the clerk. If enough people did this it would quickly become an effective statement, and perhaps even deterrent to the excessive packaging. Give it a try. And see how many fewer times you need to take out the trash as a result!

And for those who want to go further into the subject of excessive packaging, here are some interesting links:

• Grass Roots Recycling Network (Grrn.org) checks in with their Wastemaker Awards...and their note that "Garbage is NOT a renewable energy."
• The Sustainable Packaging is Good website highlights one of Dell Computer's empty promises.
• The British group TotallyWasted.org does their bit to 'name and shame' the supermarkets that burden consumers, society, and the environment with exceptionally excessive packaging.