WHERE IS PACKAGING OCCURRING?
The average Australian produces on average 200 kg of packaging waste per annum. One of Australia’s most influential environmentalists and 2010 NSW Australian of the Year, John Dee says, “ The Federal Government’s Packaging Covenant introduced 20 years ago, used to encourage manufacturers to produce recyclable packaging, is having little impact.” - 16/12/09. In Australia, food packaging is managed under state and territory trade weight acts and measurement acts. While the Federal and various state’s Fair Trade Acts include specifications against false and misleading conduct, excessive packaging is not considered misleading.
Snack foods such as chips or crackers, are generally loosely packaged to protect the chips from crumbling or being crushed. The term used to describe the empty space in the packet is “air cushioning”. This space is permitted by law- 25% for cereals such as Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Rice Bubbles®, and 40% for food snacks of a fragile nature. According to Ian Greenshields, spokesman for Goodman Fielder, manufacturer of Veri Deli, a bag of Rosemary & Sea Salt Cracker Snacks, “has 22% free air space, which is well within the allowable limit”. Though, when the inside of the packet is revealed, the air space definitely seems to be larger. “We always aim to ensure the product volume is at least 70%, typical of industry”, says Bryce Howard, spokesperson for Tasti Products, manufacturers of Weight Watchers Macadamia & Cranberry Cereal Nut Bars. Although, when the bars are shown without their plastic wrappers, and neatly placed next to each other, the disparity between the size of the packaging and the size of the product is deceptive.
Snack foods such as chips or crackers, are generally loosely packaged to protect the chips from crumbling or being crushed. The term used to describe the empty space in the packet is “air cushioning”. This space is permitted by law- 25% for cereals such as Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Rice Bubbles®, and 40% for food snacks of a fragile nature. According to Ian Greenshields, spokesman for Goodman Fielder, manufacturer of Veri Deli, a bag of Rosemary & Sea Salt Cracker Snacks, “has 22% free air space, which is well within the allowable limit”. Though, when the inside of the packet is revealed, the air space definitely seems to be larger. “We always aim to ensure the product volume is at least 70%, typical of industry”, says Bryce Howard, spokesperson for Tasti Products, manufacturers of Weight Watchers Macadamia & Cranberry Cereal Nut Bars. Although, when the bars are shown without their plastic wrappers, and neatly placed next to each other, the disparity between the size of the packaging and the size of the product is deceptive.