Avoiding overpackaging

The initiative

While packaging usually serves a good purpose, sometimes it only makes the product more attractive to consumers. The eco-responsible choice is to eliminate such overpackaging, and that’s what Costco did with Fairfield brand tall planters.

The winning solution

The planters used to be packaged in colourfully branded cardboard boxes, which were then packed in generic boxes for delivery from the plant to the store. The company decided to reduce packaging as much as possible by eliminating the colourful box. Delivery boxes were replaced with cardboard supports that hold together several planters at once.