Tuesday, June 09, 2009

GOOD PACK, BAD PACK - positives and negatives



Oh, dear, another less than positive observation.

I must still be in a bad mood. Or there really is not much to be positive about (I have press releases from the Guv and WRAP about food waste, labelling and/or energy from waste in my pending box, so here's hoping I'll find a gem or two).

Anyway, in my ongoing gallivanting I needed to get some batteries, and as I did not have several quids or access to my rechargeable stash was left with little option.

Even the stand looked odd, but when I got back and looked at the packs, a few things rather struck me:

1) Why is there a need for the 50% extra top section if they are in a custom stand? Presuming this is for other, dangly uses on top of the need to self-promo... and...

2) Why do the 8 AAA's get to squeeze in side by side, but the AA's go two by two, with all that extra spacing?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Packaging is one of my pet peeves ... it is rarely necessary. Even though some companies use recycled materials in their packaging ... it's still a waste. Do we really need individually wrapped items which are then placed into a bigger package which is then (usually) placed into a "pack"? I don't think so. Waste is waste!

Thanks for bringing this company's waste to our attention. Duracell ... shame on you!

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

Emma said...

I am actually one of those that accept that 'some' can often be necessary.

And as an ex ad-man/designer, it's a tricky, not so fine line to walk when you have marketing and/or aesthetic imperatives to handle.

Somewhere it will be written that this configuration catches the eye better and makes the most sales.

Fair enough.

However, the funny (not ha-ha) thing is that I was frustrated that I could not get the things in my pocket due to all that extra gubbins.

And with a purpose-built stand, surely all the 'selling' messages could have been in pride of place there, with the bundling packs made as small and convenient for sale once I made the purchase decision.

The minute I got home it was in the bin anyway... cardboard recycling at least!

Littlegreenfee said...

Things like batteries are very steal-able and I think the packaging size is more to make them not very easily concealed or easily popped into pockets.

Emma said...

Very fair point Littlegreenfee.

But then I would wonder why the AAA pack is hence so compact relative to the AA's.

If that were the case surely they would introduce spacing to make that pack less than easy to slip in a pocket too?

A real shame that such waste on all pack sales might get incurred to address shoplifting by a minority.