What do cucumbers have in common with cosmetics, toys, electronics accessories and many online purchases? If you guessed too much packaging, you’re right! As someone who strives to reduce waste and live a more sustainable life, excessive packaging waste is a personal pet peeve of mine. We are starting to see some improvement in this area, but change is slow.
This post was originally published in May 2021 and updated in April 2024.
In today’s post, I’ll share some examples of creative packaging solutions I’ve seen. I’ve also got 6 ways you can avoid excessive packaging.
Angry emails about cucumbers?
Let’s talk about cucumbers. I love cucumbers. I especially love English cucumbers because the skin isn’t as tough, and they have fewer seeds than regular field cucumbers. What I don’t love is the plastic packaging on the English cucumbers in the supermarket. It really bugs me and apparently, I’m not alone.
In a recent customer communication, Galen Weston, Executive Chairman of Loblaw Companies, one of Canada’s largest grocery chains, shared that some of the angriest emails he’d ever received from customers were about cucumbers. Specifically, customers were angry about multi-packs of cucumbers – individually wrapped cucumbers wrapped in a second layer of plastic packaging. When you think about it, it is ridiculous. Many other fruits and vegetables are sold loose and unwrapped, so why not English cucumbers?
And that’s just one isolated example of excessive packaging waste. In the past, I’ve shared my frustration about packaging of online purchases, toilet paper and other paper products, makeup, and produce.
Creative alternatives to plastic packaging exist
What I’m learning is that creative and plastic-free packaging solutions are out there. This makes me wonder why more companies aren’t using them.
Here are a few examples.
Note: This is NOT a paid endorsement of any of these products.
Lush packaging peanuts
One of the first things I ever bought from Lush was one of their gift sets. I was shocked to see what I thought were Styrofoam peanuts inside the box. When I investigated, I learned these packing peanuts are 100% plant-based and compostable. On a subsequent trip to the store, the associate told me I could actually eat them. I won’t go that far but it’s good to know they’re not made of Styrofoam.
Biodegradable cellophane
Before we leave Lush, I should mention that I’ve been ordering online from them during the pandemic as I’ve been limiting my shopping trips and avoiding the mall. I’ve noticed my favourite deodorant and conditioner bars were packaged in what I thought was plastic.
Turns out Lush has transitioned all plastic packaging shipped from their Vancouver facility to biodegradable cellophane and they’re working on making the same change in their Toronto facility.
You can read more about Lush and their packaging solutions on their website.
Paper packing tape
I’m seeing more companies, including Lush and Amazon, using paper packing tape on their cardboard boxes.
Amazon padded paper envelopes
A few months ago, I was pleasantly surprised when my Amazon order arrived in this recyclable padded paper envelope instead of a plastic bubble envelope.
Unfortunately, my next order came in a plastic bubble envelope. The inconsistency is frustrating. I really want to feel okay about shopping at Amazon but I feel like every shipment has a nasty plastic surprise inside.
Cardboard packaging with paper filler
I recently wrote a review of Smyle brush mints. Something I love about this company is their packaging. No plastic in sight! They use glass bottles, and ship in cardboard boxes with shredded paper padding.
Mason jars
Molloy’s is a small local business that I absolutely love. While Bring Your Own Container programs are common for food items, there aren’t a lot of businesses doing BYOC for personal care and cleaning supplies. I buy all my hand soap, laundry soap and many other products there.
During the first pandemic shutdown, they had to temporarily close their store. But they continued to look for sustainable solutions. They offer free local delivery for online orders and package their product refills in glass mason jars. When they deliver your order, they’ll even pick up the empty mason jars and refill them.
These are just 6 examples of what can be done. Now, we just need to get every company using these solutions.
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6 ways to avoid excessive packaging waste
In the meantime, what can you do about this? It’s hard because plastic packaging is everywhere. But there are changes you can make to your shopping habits that will make a difference and help avoid excessive packaging waste.
Support businesses with BYOC programs
I am a huge fan of Bring Your Own Container programs. I was thrilled recently when Bulk Barn reinstated their refillable container program after it had been suspended for over a year because of the pandemic.
Do some research to see if stores in your area offer BYOC. If you live in Waterloo Region, check out the list on the region’s website.
Shop in person when possible
The worst thing about online purchases is you often get a nasty plastic surprise or two along with your much anticipated purchase. Shopping in person lets you see what you’re buying—packaging and all.
Here’s a great example of excessive packaging overkill—a battery in a plastic sleeve, inside a plastic bubble envelope, inside a shipping box stuffed with plastic filler.
Request plastic-free shipping
This might be easier said than done. After hearing that Amazon offers this option, but they don’t publicize it, I did a little online research. It seems you can call them to request it but, depending on who you talk to, you may be told no. I also read that people had requested it, but their orders still came in plastic.
So, until they have solid solutions throughout their supply chain, I will shop at Amazon only as a last resort.
Do your homework
If shopping online, look for information about shipping and packaging on the site before buying. Companies that are making an effort are very transparent about what they are doing. Beware of greenwashing though. Some companies are really good at telling you what they think you want to hear.
And research isn’t just for online shopping. Do some homework on the stores you shop at to learn what they are doing.
Support local farmers
Buying local is always a good idea. Look for family farm stores and farmers’ markets in your area.
This summer, why not look for a pick-your-own farm and plan a family outing? We love to pick our own strawberries and blueberries in season and freeze them for the winter.
Reuse and recycle packaging
Finally, no matter how hard you try, you can’t avoid plastic packaging 100% of the time.
Try to reuse boxes, plastic bags, even bubble envelopes. If you can’t reuse them, recycle what you can—but remember to remove any plastic tape from cardboard boxes before recycling.
Sustainable packaging solutions exist so why aren’t all companies using them? Send a message with your wallet by supporting companies that offer green and eco-friendly options.
Double plastic-wrapped cucumbers are not okay. We can and must do better!
Have you seen any other innovative packaging solutions? Tell us about them below.
Great and very helpful article, thank you! I know there’s a platform called BoxGiver where people can donate unwanted packaging materials. I hope this helps!
Thanks Joe. I haven’t heard of BoxGiver. I will have to check it out.
I have to agree online shopping has too much waste in their packaging (they wrap every item, bubble wraps, then the plastic covering). I hope they consider biodegradable packaging. This is a good call-to-action article, thanks for sharing 🙂
It is getting a bit better. Some companies are very good, but others … 😡🙄
I had to order pet supplies twice this week, the local stores just can’t keep things in stock! I was super impressed that both Chewy & Petco sent my items in boxes that were just the right size and had no wasteful packing material. Yay!
That’s so great to hear Brittany! Change is slow but there are signs of progress.
100% yes, I love this post. Thank you for highlighting this issue. While I hate cucumbers, I never understood why it was wrapped like that, especially since it is so hard to remove.
Paper packing tape is a great alternative and less hassle than pulling the tape off boxes to recycle them.
My partner recently bought a pack of waffles, an impulse purchase as a treat. They were wrapped in plastic, and I didn’t think much of it. Then we opened it to discover that each individual waffle had been wrapped in plastic. 🙄
Thank you for sharing your tips on how to avoid excessive packaging waste.
I didn’t think there were any BYOC programs in my area, but after a quick Google, I found some. I’ll have to give them a try!
I miss shopping in person for the reason you mentioned, you get to see what you are buying, and there is no surprise in the packaging.
Over Christmas, we received so much unwanted packaging, but luckily, we could reuse it by donating it to someone in our community or reused it for our own parcels.
Thank you for sharing! 😊
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. What the heck is the purpose of individually wrapped waffles? I had a similar experience with chicken pies – a box wrapped in plastic with indivdiual chicken pies each wrapped in plastic. 😡
Glad to hear you found some BYOC programs in your area. I love them!
I have no idea! We won’t be buying them again; it is such a waste.
I can’t wait to try them, as it is so much better getting what you need. 😊
Plastic on Cucumbers has been my pet peeve for years. Not only is it eco impacting but they go rotten far faster in plastic wrap. I also have trouble removing the plastic wrap. I’ve switched to the mini cucumbers multi pack, but again, the whole package is wrapped in plastic. UGH!
I usually just buy field cucumbers, but I do like the English cucumbers better. It drives me crazy! 😡
I agree! Plastic within plastic! Who wants that!?
Right? It’s so crazy.
I recently placed an order from Chewy. Instead of shipping everything together, I was bummed to find that most of my stuff came one at a time.
Thanks for the reminder that we need to speak up about these issues.
That is so frustrating. I recently placed an Amazon order because our stores are only allowed to sell essential goods right now, and it was my husband’s birthday, and my daughter’s 18th birthday is this weekend. I ordered 4 items, and they came in 4 shipments. What the heck?
They definitely need to work on that!
I do get annoyed with the way cucumbers are wrapped!
I get my soaps sent to me in used food cardboard boxes. 😀
I know. Why do cucumbers need to be wrapped at all? Our regular field cucumbers aren’t packaged, and they’re fine! Reusing food cardboard packaging, or any packaging, is such a great idea!
I remember seeing photos of peeled oranges inside plastic containers and thought that has got to be a joke. But it was not. Ugh.
I know. That’s the kind of thing that really gets me going! 😡
The amount of packaging you have to deal with nowadays can be extreme, and a lot of it is unnecessary. What makes it worse is that there are eco friendly alternatives out there for replace all our packaging needs, but until the businesses make that switch, that eco packaging industry is dead in the water. I try to reuse most the packaging I get from deliveries, but it got to the point that I was just hording stuff I was never going to use
I do the same. I reuse and recycle as much as possible. I even heard of some local charities that will reuse plastic food containers. Every small step helps.
That’s cool
Yes to all of the above. And hurrah for companies like LUSH! Here’s something I’d love for a bunch of us to get rid of: the little, completely ritualistic, piece of green plastic included with orders of sushi from grocery stores such as WHole Foods/Amazon. The plastic to contain the sushi is bad enough — at least they could eliminate the unnecessary, cosmetic pice of green plastic waste…
Yeah! What is with that in the sushi containers? Who do they think they’re fooling?
I was impressed by Loblaws for actually keeping their word on the cucumber issue. Since that came out, I’ve been able to purchase the three packs of cucumbers without the double plastic. The one layer isn’t that great, but it was so awesome to see a company act to lessen the waste.
Locally to me there is a Facebook group “Ship Again Vancouver” that has people give/ask for shipping materials. It’s a way for those packing peanuts and bubble mailers (and all types of other packaging) to get used again. It thought that was a great idea too, because there really is SO MUCH packaging out there!
It is nice to see the effort, especially from large corporations. Since Galen’s email, I will be paying very close attention when shopping at my local Superstore.
I love that Facebook group. What a fabulous idea. This is the kind of creativity and innovation we need to see more of.