Invite young people to think of examples of wasteful packaging. Why do they think manufacturers produce it?
Talk about fast food. Do young people think that burgers, chips or pizzas come with too much cardboard or polystyrene? What alternatives might there be? Talk about the benefits and problems of other options.
Ask why supermarkets put fresh fruit and vegetables in polystyrene trays and plastic wrappers. Is it for convenience?
Or so they can charge a higher price for a more sophisticated-looking product?
Discuss where most waste packaging ends up. How can the amount that goes to landfill be reduced? If products were sold in reusable containers, would young people take the containers back to the shops, as people used to do years ago with beer and pop bottles?
DVDs and CDs are favourites for excess packaging. Do young people value the plastic cases and cardboard boxes that come with some of them?
Electronic goods, such as MP3 players or memory cards, also come abundantly wrapped. Talk about the confidence this gives customers. Would young people trust such products if they were sold loose, and just put in a brown paper bag?
