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Mandatory packaging re-use design

Two for the price of one.
  (+10)(+10)
(+10)
  [vote for,
against]

Packaging is necessary but wasteful.

A lot of packaging is used once and discarded, often going to landfill.

We propose that all packaging should be required to be designed for a secondary use.

Bottles and food trays are easy - they can be washed, and reused as, well, food trays and bottles.

CDs serve admirably as drink coasters.

The cardboard sleeves surrounding pacakged food could be pre-stamped so that sections fold inward, forming a toast rack or a pen holder.

The polystyrene foam blocks surrounding PCs and monitors could snap apart along break lines and lock together in a different configuration to form an orthopaedic pillow.

The posibilities are endless.

8th of 7, Mar 17 2010

here's your beer can party hat! http://junkmailgems...cans-party-hat.html
[xandram, Mar 17 2010]

container_20design_20law Not entirely dissimilar [hippo, Mar 17 2010]

Personal Thermoplastic Recycler Personal_20Thermoplastic_20Recycler
The one true way to recycle. [Bad Jim, Mar 18 2010]

The Ultimate Pizza Box at Laughing Squid http://laughingsqui...-storage-container/
The inspiration, perhaps? [phoenix, Mar 19 2010]

And when you find yourself arse-deep in orthopedic pillows... Home_20Landfill_20Maker
[FlyingToaster, Mar 19 2010]

[link]






       Wouldn't this just result in a glut of orthopedic pillows?

Regardless, [+] for trying to reduce waste.
swimswim, Mar 17 2010
  

       I try to do this anyway. It would be difficult to make it mandatory, but people need to wake up to the fact of how much waste they actually make. (Just get the homeless to show you how to re-use something! They are extremely talented at it.) +
xandram, Mar 17 2010
  

       I gave my son some old torn-up cardboard for Christmas. I told him it was an ex-box.
coprocephalous, Mar 17 2010
  

       Hmmm.... homeless consultants for packaging design... interesting.
RayfordSteele, Mar 17 2010
  

       [+] polystyrene packaging that could be broken up into standard sized blocks sounds like free insulation for either the original owner or a donation item to 'habitat' homes.   

       umm... CD's aren't supposed to be throwaway.
FlyingToaster, Mar 17 2010
  

       Back now from my abduction, I'm sure you all missed me. You see, I was able to reconstruct the wardrobe that I was locked in into a suit of armor and a swinging mace. Handy little breaking points and rejoins. Instructions were printed right inside. Break panel A into subpanel A1 and A2. Reconnect by fitting slot A1a into slot A2a. Turn 30degrees and repeat with A1b/A2b etc. until a hemisphere is formed. Mount on head.

Anyway [21Q], what of making a collectible and varied series of items. Buy 12 games for your X-box and each set of packaging becomes a different action figure from Doctor Who or what have you. I say the perfs and creases be mandatory as not everyone has the level of creativity needed to create a barcolounger from fridge packaging.
bdag, Mar 17 2010
  

       Except for the mouth-breathers in the Sales department, who are exceptionally creative, to the point of selling products that are not only not in production or development, and are not just noexistant, but if they did exist would of necessity contravene a substantial number of universal physical laws.   

       Sorry, did that sound just a touch bitter ?
8th of 7, Mar 18 2010
  

       Quoted from the original idea: "The polystyrene foam blocks surrounding PCs and monitors could snap apart along break lines and lock together in a different configuration..." I think it would be a terrific idea if all packaging of this sort could be made from polystyrene and styrofoam Lego™ bricks. After opening the original box, break down the bricks and add them to your childrens' toy chests, or make models of the Tower of London and Empire State Building to display on your mantle, or reassemble in an altogether new configuration to ship your next custom gift or project.
jurist, Mar 18 2010
  

       Instead of making packaging with alternative purposes, allow people to melt down thermoplastic packaging and make things out of it with a 3D printer.   

       I have a tub of modelling plastic that melts at 60C and can be melted again as often as you like. You can pretty much pour hot water on it and mold it in your hands. Make food packaging out of it and you don't even need equipment to recycle it.
Bad Jim, Mar 19 2010
  
      
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