A number of individuals believe that shopping centers and producers should sell fewer cased goods. However, others argue that consumers should be able to responsibly purchase items with minimal packaging. This essay will showcase both sides of this debate and I will present my case on why it should be a shared responsibility rather than that of just producers or consumers.
Many believe that in order to give shoppers a wider variety of unpackaged products, manufacturers should be able to produce them. This case is true; without anyone making items with less packaging, no one would be able to buy them. However, this line of reasoning has a slight flaw. Without the demand for less packaging from the majority of buyers, companies would not be in need of a change of product. Because of this, customer responsibility would also play an instrumental role. A lot of customers also believe that manufacturers should be able to provide them with greener alternatives at a cheap price, making environmentally friendly items more accessible for consumers.
On the other hand, individuals also have a responsibility to protect the environment from further destruction and pollution by limiting their consumption of products that are packaged in non-biodegradable materials. By boycotting certain products from companies who are not being environmentally responsible, consumers can put pressure on these companies to change their attitude towards the materials that they use to package their products. As a result, companies will be forced to act more environmentally responsible by changing and reducing product packaging. Consumers have the power to bring about change, but must act together in order for it to happen.
In conclusion, while it seems as though only either companies or customers are to blame, both parties need to take responsibility for the amount of packaging that is used to package goods. Moreover, the government must play a significant role in solving this issue by making sure that companies adhere to a certain regard in packaging and educating individuals about the environmental destruction caused by plastic packaging.