Today we were at Costco to buy food for an upcoming party. As I peered into the shopping cart, I saw a Crunch Pak’s plastic container full of plastic wrapped baggies of organic apples slices. Maybe it is me, but is this an oxymoron? Individually wrapped organic apples swaddled in plastic with more plastic around it? I would not call this greenwashing but there has to be a name for it. Plasticized organic?
I took the plastic container out and looked at my husband in disbelief. When he brought it home the first time, I told him I did not want to buy them again. I was appalled at the amount of plastic used then, and have not changed my opinion about it now.
When I asked him why these apples were in the shopping cart, he explained that my youngest son loves them for his lunch box. Sure, why not. They are organic. Check Plus. Convenient. Just take them out of their plastic box and drop them in the lunch box. Check Plus, Plus! This is what we have become as a society. Convenience rules. Throw in some green’ess and you got yourself a winner.
But with all this convenience, what will our kids inherit in years to come? Plastic filled landfills that takes century to decompose? Ever drive by one? I did when we were in Florida this past month. And I can tell you that it may look beautiful with their grass hills but the smell is down right horrible. G-d bless the people who live near them.
I am on my power of one kick these days. (Asked Avery to take back their plastic binders.) So, I wandered over to the Crunch Pak’s website to leave them feedback. I wrote the following:
“My husband brought home the crunch pak one day from Costco thinking it was great for our children’s lunch boxes. It is great they are organic but with all the plastic packaging, it negates the organic status of the product.
What is going to happen to all that plastic? It will go in a landfill to decompose for centuries.
You may say well at least the kids are choosing to eat organic. True, but they could easily pack an organic apple without all the plastic.
I refuse to buy your product because of the amount of waste generated by the product as well as the natural resources exhausted (petroleum) to create the packaging. Perhaps consider an alternative packaging such as a sealed recycled cardboard for all the cut up fruit. Let the parents dole out what they want for their kids. Encourage parents to use re-usable containers.
This may not be the best idea but see
http://www.adare.com/news/fruit.html as to their soft packaging.
I look forward to hearing from you.”
I searched high and low on the internet for a recycled packaging that could be sealed. Given that everyone wants to be green these day, I am sure Crunch Pak could find a better alternative.
As I browsed their site, I saw how much they are involved in the community, proud participant in National School Lunch Program, and sponsor Team Utah Neuroscience Research in the Race Across America! Then I felt bad since it seemed like they had their heart in the right place but with the wrong packaging. Call me an old softy.
Readers, do you have an idea what kind of packaging they could use that would seal the apples for freshness which can be recycled by everyone? Recycled cardboard type packaging?
I know some of you think the whole idea of selling sliced apples is ridiculous. Others might think, come up with a solution for individually wrapped as well since many parents are going to throw them in baggies anyways. However, I am trying to stay in the middle and come up with an idea that makes everyone somewhat happier. I can live with the idea of sliced apples in one recyclable container (not individually wrapped) since I know that parents will buy them for convenience and at least their kids will be eating organic fruit.
Readers, what do you suggest? What are your thoughts about this?
Mavis says
The person or company that creates the first biodegradible bag that can keep food fresh is going to be very sucessful!!
TheGreenCat says
Um, yea, apples ALREADY come in the perfect packaging: their skin! Seriously, why do we need everything to be done for us? Buy organic apples, wash them off and slice them. Then pack the slices in your kid’s lunch. As a kid, my mom had a simple apple slicer which I loved to use (one I was old enough to manage it). It takes no time at all to core and slice an apple with it–probably as much time as it would take to open up that plastic package. Plus it was all metal–so you’ve got no plastic there either.
Green Talk says
The GreenCat, I so agree. What kind of tool was it that you use? Anna
TheGreenCat says
Anna: It looked like this: http://www.cheftools.com/prodi.....variation= (Although I feel like they are much less expensive than the one on that website).
.-= TheGreenCat´s last blog ..Mean Green Trucking =-.
cheap bows says
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Farmer's Daughter says
I grew up on an apple orchard and agree, the skin is the perfect packaging.
Another question would be where did those apples come from? Fall (back to school time around here) is the perfect time for local apples. Local apples taste amazingly different from shipped from afar apples.
I do see the convenience factor, though, for little kids that might have a hard time biting into an apple, say if they were missing their front teeth or something. But I think the problem is that they have to be individually packaged because the enzymes start to turn the apples brown as soon as they’re cut. They’re treated with chemicals (calcium… something) to keep them from turning brown in the sealed package, but once they’re opened and exposed to fresh air, I’m pretty sure they start to turn brown again.
You might do better to just cut an apple up and squirt it with some lemon juice in the morning. Never tried it but I bet it would work.
.-= Farmer’s Daughter´s last blog ..My Students Need Your Help! =-.