75 Examples Of Extremely Wasteful Product Packaging

1) Peek-A-Boo

At first, this box looked empty. Did someone steal their item or maybe this was a prank? But nope! These batteries were just packed in the biggest box that was available.

2) Too Bad Nature Couldn’t Help

It really is unfortunate that nature doesn’t have some sort of protective shell of oranges so we don’t need plastic boxes. Oh wait. This is quite silly packaging but it’s great for the lazy.

3) It’s A Cool Tin

You would expect this tin to be full of different Nerds. Or at least a giant bag that barely fits in the tin. But all this Easter egg held was a small box of Lemonade Wild Cherry.

4) This May Be Worse

How lazy can one be? Would you spend three times as much on an orange if someone peeled it and pulled it apart? Turns out, some people would.

5) Another Disappointment

This was not worth the money. If this thing was full of gummy bears, then it would be a real treat. But what it’s really full of…is lies. Thanks again, life, for another disappointment.

6) Totally Not Needed

Does someone have something against buying their tomatoes without packaging? Just wash them and you’ll be fine. Or buy them in bulk if you want packaging.

7) Where’s My Cord?

Imagine waiting weeks for that replacement cord and when you get your package, it’s not in the box. If this happens, try digging deeper and you’re sure to find it.

8) Hand-Sized

People are running out of ideas. This company is bagging single potatoes so they’ll be “less waste.” Ya’ll know you can already buy single potatoes without them looking special?

9) Tastes Better Not Cut

Watermelon fanatics know that not all watermelon is created equal. If you’re going to buy a whole watermelon’s worth of the fruit, then buy it uncut. It tastes way better!

10) Three Times Safer

We understand it if you want your chicken wrapped. But just once really is enough. Although this is a great idea for if you want to eat one and freeze the rest.

11) Pallet-Packed Pallet

This pallet was actually packaged with a pallet. At this point, we’re not even sure which one is the packaging and which one is the order. Plastic or wood? It’s up to you.

12) One Leaf, Coming Right Up

This lime leave comes in a package big enough for a whole bushel of basil. You’d think they’d pack more in there or put it in a smaller bag. So much extra crinkle paper!

13) Just One Jar

This box has slots for nine jars, and yet it’s packed with only one. Maybe if you order more, they will pack them together. Or maybe it’s strictly one per box. You never know.

14) Is It Cheaper?

If you’re afraid of vending machines and gas stations, yet you only want one coke, then this is perfect for you. Otherwise, it’s a total waste and makes you want to facepalm.

15) Extra Gum Inside

This is a little ridiculus. Why use deli containers for gum that’s already packaged? Most of these are for lazy people but this one doesn’t make anything easier or cleaner.

16) Double Wraped For Safety Reasons

I suppose there are people who are allergic to orange peels. But then again, would those people be buying oranges? Probably not. So again, useless packaging.

17) Mamba Number Three

This tiny candy is packed in something that is supposed to be for 24 candies? Are we missing something here becuase none of this makes any sense.

18) That’s A Lot Of Plastic

With all of these people who hate plastic, you’d think that the retail industry would learn to stop overdoing it. Just use the bare minimum or switch to something biodegradable.

19) Now That’s A Flash Drive

Do you ever get a package and think, “I wonder what this is!” only to find out it’s something you ordered that could have fit in a smaller box? This happens all of the time.

20) What In The World?

This one bag probably doesn’t matter. But imagine all of the other items this company sells. That’s a lot of wasteful packaging. What could we do with all of that excess?

21) Just One Marker

This could have been packed in a envelope, even a padded one. But then again, whoever orders one marker is asking for it, aren’t they? It’s not even packaged itself.

22) Cavendish

This isn’t just any banana, it’s a cavendish banana. Is that why it’s packaged in plastic instead of sold as is? You’ll have to ask Starbucks about that because I’m lost.

23) Thanks Marks And Spencer

No one cares who sources the mango. We all know they are sweet and juicy. And of course it was tree ripened. So why is it packaged in plastic? Is it too good for the mound?

24) Surprise, It’s M&M

You probably thought that this box of M&Ms just had candy in it. But it’s actually just a box to hold the bag. It probably cost more than the bag and so you’re buying that box.

26) Thanks, SanDisk

First of all, 16GBs is extrememly weak, so no one is going to buy that anyway. Even if it does come with three in a package. But then again, this was 2013. My how the times have changed.

26) More Wrapped Bubble Wrap

This bubble wrap came wrapped in paper. What is it with bubble wrap vendors and their need to protect their bubble wrap. At least use bubble wrap. It’s good marketing.

27) Could have Held A Lot More

This Earl Grey tea bag came in plastic. Imagine packing tea in plastic. The whole idea is that tea bags are always biodegradable. It’s great! So why pack them in plastic and ruin that?

28) Those Gloves Are Safe

It’s a good thing this giant box and airbags were keeping these golfing gloves safe. Otherwise, they would have broken in the mail. Then this recipient couldn’t play golf.

29) Shallot Work?

I wonder if companies know that we don’t mind having our produce out in the open. Especially already well-protected bulbs of shallots, onions, and garlic.

30) They’re Even “Pointed”

These bananas are sold by the weight, like many produce is. But the thing is, is there anyone who would rather buy one in plastic than off the shelf? Who doesn’t by the bushel anyway?

31) Can you Buy One Pencil?

Maybe this packaging is so the sharpened pencil doesn’t poke you. If so, why not try a little harder to protect it? Besides, aren’t construction pencils the only singles you can buy?

32) That’s Just Gross

No one is going to buy a pre-peeled banana. It’s unsanitary and unnecessary. Why do people always try to find a new way to package the perfectly packaged banana?

33) At Least It’s Cute

Don’t let his cuteness fool you. He’s just there to lure children in and make them ask for this crazy packaging. Just look at those slices! Learn to peel, people.

34) Leave The Produce Alone

Not only are these strawberries packed in the most ridiculous way, but they are also from Harry and David. We all know they should have their act together. We’ve seen the catalog.

35) What A Big Knife

I have a feeling that all of their knives are packed in the same package, no matter the size. So of course some of them will be to small to make up for the biggest of them all.

36) They Rockit

Is there something about plastic packaging that makes produce seem special? Because there shouldn’t be any reason to pack anything that’s bigger than a strawberry.

37) Chop Those Sticks

These knitting needles are another that faced the overkill of wasteful packaging. At least tehy are safe, but it could have been done so much better.

38) Spot The Bulb

This bulb is so tiny that at first it was hard to spot. It looks like a picture on the box. But it’s actual size. There’s only one of them in the box. Even Energy Star is on the bandwagon.

39) Just One Tablet Again

Maybe there wasn’t a good way to pack one tablet without it getting lost. But they could have put five or six pills in the package to save on packaging. People would still buy it.

40) Not You Too, Vans

Even Vans is packing their shoes in a giant box. I hope there was air bubbles in there to keep it safe. Or you know, you could just pack it in a shoe-sized box.

41) Learn Basic Cooking Skills

A lot of people have trouble peeling garlic, but they will probably decide to struggle instead of buying peeled garlic. Especially since garlic has a natural, biodegradable casing.

42) Again With The Halves

It really isn’t harrd to slice and pit an avocado. Sure, you might not always know when it’s ripe, but that’s something you can learn without wasting money and plastic.

43) Love Me Some Bacon

This person asked for bacon on the side at McDonald’s and were given a giant to-go box to hold it. Makes it look like a tiny bit of bacon. Better than a fry box, perhaps.

44) Is It Organic?

Is this packaging organic? It sure doesn’t look like it. This farm claims to be all organic but when you wrap your eggs in plastic, I think that defeats the purpose.

45) Unwaxed?

Sure, that’s great. Unwaxed limes! But what about all of that plastic that’s covering them? Maybe next time, let them be free and then we’ll talk about the wax.

46) Tic Tac No

This isn’t ideal in any way. Sure, it’s a cute novelty item, but it’s so not worth it. That big box comes with sixty tiny boxes of Tic Tacs! That’s a lot of plastic!

47) Don’t Let The Mold Spread

If that’s paper or cheesecloth, it’s a little better than the plastic we are seeing. But it’s still a lot of packaging! Each piece is wrapped to prevent mold.

48) Another Game Of Waldo

Not only was this battery in a big box, but that big box was in an even bigger box. This person might ahve won the prize for the most unnecessary box. But we’re still counting.

49) No One Wants One

If you are going to buy wine, you’re probably going to want the whole bottle. Selling single glasses is a great way to try to encourage portion control. But it won’t work.

Intrepid Fox Wine
Source:

Intrepid Fox Wine

50) Pop Them All

Those three packages? Socks! Yep, the indestructible socks came with a huge amount air packaging. That’s such a waste. No one recycles those things so it’s going in the trash.

51) Please Make It Stop

We’ve hit a new low. Canned goods are now wrapped in plastic. Wasn’t the whole point of canning it to keep it fresh? I’m pretty sure that wrap isn’t doing anything.

52) Stop With The Herbs

For those who don’t recognize what this is, it’s lemongrass. How completely wasteful is this packaging. You could fit a whole load of lemongrass in that!

53) Comes With A Christmas Ornament

IT’s nice that these potatoes come with a Christmas ornament and all, but really? Four potatoes in a plastic container? At least use the classic potato bags if you want to use plastic.

54) Do They Carrot All?

Carrots are just fine how they are. Wash em, peel em, do what you will. But do not wrap them in plastic like they are Easter candy. Leave our carrots alone.

55) Get That Bread

This bread isn’t in a loaf. It’s individually sliced and packaged. That’s a lot of useless packaging. Especially since it’s all thrown in a box. Thanks for smashing it all!

56) Use The Classic Package

Normally, medicine comes in bottles or those aluminum packages with all the tablets in one. Both options work. This however, is a big failure and should be changed.

57) Best They Could Do

Considering Amazon only has a select amount of box sizes, this makes sense. This is probably their smallest package. They could solve the problem by making a smaller one.

58) How Did They Order This?

This dude ordered an earring that was 6mm. That sounds impossible but it’s true. What also is true is that it came in this box with a ton of paper. How did they find it?

59) That’s A Piece Of Paper

Believe it or not, this Norton Antivirus came in a box and all that is in the box is a piece of paper. They could have skipped the box altogether but who are we to judge?

60) Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts

There’s nothing unsafe about coconut shells. The fruit next to it would be better off in plastic than the coconut. But we don’t live in a perfect world, we live in one that belongs on Reddit.

61) That’s Some Lemons

That’s four containers for less than one whole lemon. Why not just give them a whole lemon and a knife if you’re going to go that far with it? Geez, Chipotle, keep up with the times.

62) In Case You Don’t Know How

Someone just made this whole thing up. If you don’t know how to bake a potato without plastic, then you need to learn. Stab it with a fork then microwave it for five minutes.

63) Now That’s A Rip-Off

This has to be the least amount of watermelon that money can buy. Those tiny slices won’t last you through one meal. And there is so much plastic, most people will gape at the thought.

64) Or Just Don’t

Someone needs to teach everyone how to package, or rather not package, bananas. They really are fine without it. In fact, the are probably the safest produce there is thanks to that peel.

65) Could Have Used A Smaller Box

If we protected the bees as well as we protect Burt’s Bee’s products, the world would be a different place. Bee Movie wouldn’t exist though so that would be really sad.

66) That’s A Lot Of Work

This is great for portion control. All of these jelly beans are individually wrapped so you won’t find yourself shoveling them in scoops at a time. At least there is that.

67) What Is It Even?

What happens when you buy one small roll of cellophane? It’s packaged in a big box and fifty feet of paper. Probably should have gone to the store for this one, buddy.

68) That’s 28 Markers

This is a cute box but totally not worth it. There 28 markers in there, which seems like a lot. Until you open it and see how small of a space they could have fit into.

69) Totally Compostable

Wow, McDonald’s. They actually said their pods are compostable but then wrapped them in plastic? That makes about as much sense as expecting their ice cream machines to be working.

70) Now It’s Safe

Is it strange that this bubble wrap is being protected like it’s glass? It sure is. Maybe it’s to keep it from moving around in the box and disturbing the peace?

71) Learn To Cut Them

Cutting an avocado is a life skill that everyone should learn. The worst part about this packagine is that it’s at a restaurant, so the cooks are having to deal with these things!

72) Did They Just Waste Money?

Disks are going extinct. So you shouldn’t be surprised when the computer programs or video games have a case but there isn’t a disk in it. Still infuriating, all the same.

73) Just Buy A Bag

This isn’t the worst idea if you’re short on time and on the go. Grab a couple halos in this big plastic package. Or grab a couple oranges from the shelves at skip the box.

74) This Strawberry Isn’t Unique

Is this good marketing or bad marketing? We’re not even sure anymore. Someone is trying to sell one strawberry for the price of a whole carton. Why? Because, it’s rare with rich sweetness.

75) Micro Packaging

There’s a good reason for not packaging this SD in a micro SD sized box. It would get lost in the mail. However, I feel as if there shoudl be a happy medium somewhere.