Better Packaging for Eco-friendly Products

 Agreed a product shouldnt claim to be all eco-friendly if it's containers really aren't. 

There's a co-op about 9 blocks away from Huddler HQ that has a bunch of stuff in bulk containers.  While it's pretty standard to think about buying rice or granola from bulk bins, it's not as common to get your personal care products, etc. that way!

It's pretty cool....they've got these huge containers of stuff like Dr. Bronner's which you can either decant into your own containers (they also sell reusable bottles, so if it's your first time, you can always pick up one of those too).  I'll have to take some pictures next time I'm over there.

As I'm trying to cut down on my meat consumption, I have been chowing down on other protein rich foods.  One of my favorites is Cottage Cheese.  I can eat it by the tub full, and loved it since I was a kid.  So I'm eating out my little container the other day and I notice a pull tab on the label.  So I pulled on it and noticed the label was made out of heavy cardstock instead of plastic.  On the inside of the lable was printed this:

Kroger has redesigned this packaging to make it friendlier to the environment.

Our new pakaging features:

- 40% to 60% less volume of plastic than conventional dairy cups

- Less plastic means less crude oil in the manufacturing of this package.

- Our new dairy cups are more sustainable to the environment than traditional dairy cups.

...

Our new packaging design consumes the minimum amount of energy and can be easily recycled.  The dairy cups are manufactured utilizing the thinnest possible grade of polypropylene that still ensures our products preserve their freshness and excellent quality.  the cup itself would not be rigid enough, so we have added extra strength by designing our new full color card label/sleeve, which wraps around the cup.  The sleeve is perforated so that you can easily separate the sleeve from the  cup.  The plastic and paper can then be recycled where recycling programs exist.

I was supprised at this and think that Kroger is doing a good job.  I mentioned on another forum about their self checkouts having an option to place your own grocery bags on the scale before you start scanning your items to avoid the frustration of waiting for the checkout manager to ok the extra weight on the platform.

I know that Krogers aren't everywhere but I wonder if their sister companies are doing these same things.  Just thought I'd pass along the praise of a company who appears to be trying to make a difference.