The use of packaging, such as plastic bags, is a common practice in supermarkets and shops to protect products from damage. However, as more and more people start to realize the effects that it has on the environment, discussion now centers on whether manufacturers or consumers should take the responsibility of cutting down the use of such materials. My view is that addressing this issue requires efforts made by both sides.
Before the wide use of packaging, people had no choice but to hand carry the goods they bought from stores, which was indeed a strenuous experience. Thanks to the invention of packaging, consumers nowadays are capable of carrying a heap of items, with no need to worry about some of them falling or getting crushed. Such convenience makes consumers embrace the idea of packaging, get used to it, and thus overlook the negative consequences resulting from using non-degradable packaging materials. In this sense, the responsibility partially lies in consumers themselves, who could otherwise choose to bring their own shopping bags and avoid buying products that use more packaging than necessary.
Manufacturers and supermarkets also have a vital role to play in the sense that it is they that brought packaging to the public eye in the first place, as a user-friendly and low-cost material to transport and store products. If they are willing to replace packaging with more environmentally-friendly solutions such as home delivery and recycling service, the public may eventually get accustomed to the new strategy, though it is likely to trigger complaints at the initial stage of its practice.
In conclusion, I would say the interplay between manufacturers and consumers in this matter means that to reduce the use of packaging cannot be achieved by one side alone. Consumers should be made aware of the differences they are capable of making, while manufacturers have the duty to promote more eco-friendly alternative options to packaging.
The
use
of
packaging
, such as plastic bags, is a common practice in supermarkets and shops to protect products from damage.
However
, as more and more
people
start
to realize the effects that it has on the environment, discussion
now
centers on whether manufacturers or
consumers
should take the responsibility of cutting down the
use
of such materials. My view is that addressing this issue requires efforts made by both sides.
Before
the wide
use
of
packaging
,
people
had no choice
but
to hand carry the
goods
they
bought
from stores, which was
indeed
a strenuous experience. Thanks to the invention of
packaging
,
consumers
nowadays are capable of carrying a heap of items, with no need to worry about
some
of them falling or getting crushed. Such convenience
makes
consumers
embrace the
idea
of
packaging
,
get
used
to it, and
thus
overlook the
negative
consequences resulting from using non-degradable
packaging
materials. In this sense, the responsibility
partially
lies in
consumers
themselves, who could
otherwise
choose to bring their
own
shopping bags and avoid buying products that
use
more
packaging
than necessary.
Manufacturers and supermarkets
also
have a vital role to play in the sense that it is they that brought
packaging
to the public eye in the
first
place, as a user-friendly and low-cost material to transport and store products. If they are willing to replace
packaging
with more
environmentally
-friendly solutions such as home delivery and recycling service, the public may
eventually
get
accustomed to the new strategy, though it is likely to trigger complaints at the initial stage of its practice.
In conclusion
, I would say the interplay between manufacturers and
consumers
in this matter means that to
reduce
the
use
of
packaging
cannot
be achieved
by one side alone.
Consumers
should
be made
aware of the differences they are capable of making, while manufacturers have the duty to promote more eco-friendly alternative options to
packaging
.