Questions+on+packaging

//**This page is being created for us to ask some of the many questions we still have about packaging. We're sending it to the experts who have been so helpful to us in the project. If you're willing to provide more answers, please put your names next to any response you give. If you'd rather just give us your answers directly, feel free to email any points to roy.fernandes@tcdsb.org**//

//**A reminder that our website is in the process of being updated. Here's what was on from previous years.**// http://www.tcdsb.org/environment/zerowaste/

From presentations give to use by Andrew Telfer from Walmart on March 8, 2012 and Walter Kraus from Weston Bakeries on March 19, we learned many new things and heard about some great initiatives.

We understand that in the end businesses need to make a profit to survive (it's a line in our play) but it's clear that there are many concerned environmentalists in the business world like Andrew and Walter

We heard about Walmart's scorecards system where they rank a package and if they don't like the packaging they try and get the company to change. Have you considered trying to get any of these packages to change?

Tuna in a prepackaged container with a spoon, crackers wrapped in foil, and a napkin (both clover leaf and goldseal) Dad's cookies - two cookies in individual packages Tea companies like Celestial seasoning that wrap their tea box in plastic (3 Crown tea has no plastic around their box but they do put a staple, tag and string on their tea bags.

Walter told us about Loblaws getting their vegetables shipped in reusable plastic crates instead of boxes which end up being a one time use. This sounds like a great idea. Has either Walmart or Loblaws considered going one step further and having refillable milk bottles (like Longos or Harmony Organics)?

In terms of plastic bags, while it's good that people are being charged 5 cents per bag, have you ever considered a rebate of 5 cents for every customer who brings their own bag. Carrot and stick approach.

We were told that Walmart and Loblaws/Weston are making the effort to use mainly PET plastic as this is a plastic that can be recycled just about anywhere. Why aren't other companies doing this? Our understanding is that it is not a much greater price point?

Really liked your idea of having people vote with their wallets. Packages that are overpackaged should not be bought but unfortunately, people often buy with their wallets and stomach instead. If it's cheap, and they like the product, they'll buy it. Some classic examples are chip bags, chocolate bars, cereal bars. All these products have packaging destined for the landfill but we still buy them. What do you think the solution is for these items? We'd like to see more research done for companies to come up with ways to make compostable or recyclable packages for these products but again, unless the business takes true product stewardship, this won't happen. And how can companies be FORCED to take EPR? We maintain that less packaging would save the company money in many instances but if the company thinks excess packaging helps them sell their product OR if they make packages like chip bags that are going to be in the garbage, why should WE pay for it through our tax dollars via the waste management system? It would seem that the government is the best bet on this one to affect change, but we haven't had any government reps in yet. Any thoughts on this last BIG blurb?