
Yesterday "wrapped up" the week-long Défi Sans Emballage 2008 effort in Quebec. For the second year, Défi organized in a campaign to markedly reduce the use of consumer packaging in Quebec for one week: from plastic shopping bags to prepackaged food containers. Stéphan Lagassé, the director of the Festival Mondial de la Terre Canada, associated with Défi, hints that the event may continue on in weekly organized efforts...

He says work is already underway on a campaign to be rolled out next month encouraging individuals and businesses to observe a weekly “no packaging” day. “If businesses can have casual Fridays for clothing, why not no packaging Fridays?” he asks.
We are all for a weekly reminder to reduce the use of packaging in consumer products. A few ways to do this are to buy foods in bulk, remember your shopping bags when you head out for groceries, and avoid products that use excessive packaging. More information (in French) is available here. Photos: Chris Jordan from Intolerable Beauty: Portraits of American Mass Consumption
This is a great initiative. Not only would I prefer to not have the often excessive packaging for environmental reasons, but in the end I'm also paying for it as it makes the product more expensive.
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If we need to package, then I don't mind a cardboard box or backer for packaging because they are included in most recycling programs. Of course it would be great if we could just stop there. But if manufactures feel that they need to use some sort of plastic in their packaging, I think it would be great it if they would let the consumer know if the plastic they use as part of the packaging is also recyclable.
view thirdcoastgirl's profile