Sometimes it's the little things...

I recently changed my ink cartridges, which was not at all eventful; but this evening when I went to put the old ink cartridges in the the little envelope that comes with the new cartridges to recycle the old ones, I found this:

Is it really all that necessary to wrap the little envelope in PLASTIC? Granted its not a lot of plastic—but it's an envelope! An envelope requires this much protection? It's going to travel through the U.S. Postal Service without this protection, but it needs it INSIDE a box?

Then I shifted my focus to the amount of packaging that came with my tiny expensive ink cartridge...

Now most of it is paper or cardboard that I can throw in the recycling bin, but still, is all this necessary? When you have designed a box for a product that requires an extra piece of cardboard inside to hold the small item in place in the box, is that really the most effective design? Wouldn't the packaging be cheaper to make if it were smaller? Could that possibly make my ink cartridge cost less than $35?

I'm not really expecting an answer, but as a print designer, who has admittedly designed many a piece of paper that have no doubt been either thrown away or (hopefully) recycled, I think its good to think about downsizing in design. Sometimes simpler is just better, maybe smaller is better too. I had a boss a few years ago who used to say simpler is harder. Maybe she was right. Hence all the packaging for my tiny expensive ink cartridge. Goodnight friends.

Comments

[shona]

I've thought the same thing, but am pleased that they at least make recycling the plastic (and who knows what other internal materials) cartridge easy + free.

[Felicia]

I agree one hundred percent. I recommend you email the company and send them a link to this blog post and ask them to reconsider their packaging. Unless we consumers speak up they won't bother to change.

[Dale Anne]

I agree - why do we need all that extra packaging. Its getting ridiculous how things are packaged anymore - what happened to going green for these companies.
We should voice our opinion to every company that over packages and maybe they'll finally get the HINT!!!

[Zoe]

You're so right on everything here Kathleen. I hate replacing my ink cartridges because there is so much packaging.

[Janick]

I SO SO SO agree!! As a graphic designer also, I think it part of our jobs to at least try to do an effort. Obviously, clients don't always agree or get it, but trying time after time might do the trick!
I thik HP hasn't gotten it yet (nor almost all the printer making companies either.) Unfortuanetly, printing requires paper, so if they at least tried to make an effort in packaging, would be much appreciated!