What A Waste

[dannyboy]

I could not decide whether to put this in the 'Angry', 'Unhappy' or 'Jokes' thread. 

A few days ago I ordered a set of steel rulers, 2 x 12", 2 x 9" and 2 x 6", from Amazon. They came in a clear plastic envelope which measured approximately 12.5" x 1.25" x 0.25". That clear envelope was in a cardboard box, with a bit of paper padding, the box measuring 16" x 12.5" x 4.5".  . No, I am being serious. How on earth Amazon can justify that I have no idea. Reedikalus!

I know, from watching a television programme a while back, that a computer tells the operator what size packaging to use, provides the packaging and even dispenses the right length of tape to fasten the packaging, but what happened to common sense, (and sustainability - or whatever it is called), these days?

[Richard Taylor]

Because, for the volume of postal packaging that Amazon uses, it'll be far cheaper to stick just a few standard sizes which they can order in their millions at the best price. Also reduces the number of postal/courier rates they have to deal with - again, allowing them to strike bulk deals.

Richard

[edwin_m]

We got something small in a very large box a couple of days ago.  I wonder if they have run out of small boxes. 

[Newportnobby]

Posted before in a similar veined thread but another example of packaging ridikulousness.....

[Bealman]

All I can add to this is there was no waste on that job you did on the GWR railcar you sent me, David. Perfect size and robust. In fact I was running it around the coffee table for GrandBealette earlier in the week! 

[daffy]

Posted before in a similar veined thread but another example of packaging ridikulousness.....

i always thought Viagra was blue, not lemony green. But there ya go.

[crewearpley40]

Posted before in a similar veined thread but another example of packaging ridikulousness.....

i often wonder how much of that packaging ends up  in the bin.

[Bealman]

Isn't that where it all ends up? 

[Dorsetmike]

Posted before in a similar veined thread but another example of packaging ridikulousness.....

Taking that further, the size of box will be larger than necessary, and if we take it even further the larger box will mean less boxes to make a lorry load, so they need more vehicles to clog up the roads and emit more pollution.

[woodbury22uk]

Posted before in a similar veined thread but another example of packaging ridikulousness.....

i often wonder how much of that packaging ends up  in the bin.

Tablet blister packs can be recycled at Superdrug branches which have pharmacies. I took a bagful in a week or two ago. Most packaging can be recycled. Soft plastic flexible packaging is accepted in most larger supermarkets, and the Terracycle network copes with all sorts of stuff from toothbrushes to trigger bottles and much more. Shortly before her sudden death my wife had set up the local collection point for Ferrero Rocher packaging which I will now continue to manage. @Railwaygun

[emjaybee]

To be fair to the manufacturer, looking at the spacing of the sheet, the production line it comes off probably does multiple packaging.

I suspect the same production line can be set to produce blister packs of 5, 7, 10, 15, tablets according to what the tablet is, what the general 'coarse' is for the particular prescription etc..

So, it may be the most efficient way of packaging multiple tablets for differing prescriptions, coarse, etc., thus reducing the number of production lines required, which in turn reduces the cost (hopefully) to the end supplier (NHS), and will also reduce the amount of footprint required, which in turn reduces the size of building required, thus reducing the amount of lighting and heating required.

Just my thoughts.

[emjaybee]

Now...

...if ya wanna talk ridiculous packaging...

I use Amazon a reasonable amount. Not proud of that, but needs must. To make the £20 free delivery, I have a selection of small items that I drop on the order to achieve this.

A while back I ordered  three items, tool spares, that came to £19+change. So, I added on a pack of Giant Skittles at 89p to make it up.

All listed as despatched on the same day, except the Skittles came in their own cardboard package. The rest was in one box with plenty of room.

But it's okay, 'cos Jeff Bezos is going to tell us how to save the planet.

[Note to Mods: Can't find the emoji that I really want to put at the end of that.    ]

[GAD]

My Hunslet came in two padded envelopes, one inside the other. Rails of Sheffield sent me a similarly sized loco in a box which is big enough to take two OO locos and room to spare. Why?
Also Traintrax use padded envelopes and I've had no issues with damage, despite ordering, over the years, enough stock and locos to run the entire Western Region.

[daffy]

Now...

...if ya wanna talk ridiculous packaging...

All listed as despatched on the same day, except the Skittles came in their own cardboard package. The rest was in one box with plenty of room.

I suspect this is probably due to items being despatched from two different distribution warehouses that will be miles apart.
I raised this issue with someone in my family who used to work in John Lewis hQ when a four item order arrived in three boxes. He explained it is just more cost effective 'by a long way' to operate in this way than maintain depots with all stock items.

[railsquid]

On the plus side, Mrs. Railsquid is so used to receiving large boxes full of mainly air that when I do receive large boxes mainly full of model railway, they are assumed not to be