A few individuals argue that producers and stores in charged with reducing the number of packaging of their products, while others think that people must refrain from buying products with excessive packaging. In this essay, I will discuss this topic from both points of view and give my own opinion.
On one hand, manufacturers have a responsibility for their products, including packaging. When they are developing their products, packaging should be a focus due to the effect of the packaging on the product and also the environment. They should not only focus on production costs but also have a duty to protect our world from packaging waste. Besides that, supermarkets also have the same responsibility to reduce packaging usage when delivering products to the end user. For example, they can avoid using disposable packaging and prefer to use reusable packaging or bags to minimize waste from packaging.
On the other hand, customers also have the right to choose the products they want to buy; therefore, they also have the responsibility and power to reduce packaging usage and contribute to solving environmental problems related to waste. When we cannot change something on a wide scale, we can start the change with ourselves, so it will be easier to implement. For instance, customers can buy products with less packaging and more environmentally friendly, and customers can bring their own reusable bags from home.
Lastly, from my own perspective, both sides have a responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging used, but if we start with ourselves as consumers to avoid buying goods with excessive packaging, it is easier to do. If many customers do not buy products with much packaging and it becomes a trend, I think manufacturers and supermarkets will also take action and follow the customers’ wishes.