Dear Migros
You are already making certain efforts in the right direction when it comes to reducing plastic and packaging waste in general, I am thinking for example of the organic meat packaging. Why is this packaging principle not used for all meat products? You will probably answer that the customer who buys organic meat also wants organic packaging, but the less environmentally conscious normal meat buyer doesn't care. I'm afraid that's true. But: Migros, as a company that thinks sustainably, should care! Perhaps we need to take customers by the hand and force them to choose more environmentally friendly packaging.
Meat is just one example... I've recently noticed that some people abroad have already gone further: this summer in Denmark, we bought yoghurt in a plastic liter bag - hygienic, individually portionable, squeezable down to the last gram and a relatively small amount of plastic film remains at the end. Yoghurt from a Tetrapak is the norm in Scandinavia, which probably produces less plastic waste, but a little more waste overall and, above all, more food waste than plastic bags. In Norway, we bought a (palm oil-free!) alternative to Nutella in a tube - again, the same arguments apply as above.
In Italy, there are pet bottles that are extremely thin-walled - a little wobbly but still designed in such a way that they are still functional - there is certainly less pet in them than in Swiss pet bottles.
I probably don't need to write anything here about the discussion on fruit and vegetables with plastic wrap or trays around them.
When I occasionally buy a ready meal for the microwave (shame on me...!) I also wonder why sturdy plastic packaging still needs a cardboard sleeve. Perhaps the product information could also be printed or stuck on the cover film?
Surely cosmetics don't need cardboard packaging in addition to the tube, bottle or whatever? Stackability ok, but Mibelle could also make larger, stackable containers (e.g. 20 or 50 instead of one tube in a box, which is then unpacked in the store?)
Cookies in a plastic tray in a plastic wrapper in a cardboard box - are all 3 layers really necessary? Does the plastic tray have to be so sturdy and thick?
I would be delighted if the Migros packaging designers could receive further suggestions in the comments!
All replies (6)
6 years ago
Hello jazzie_11
Thank you for your detailed post on the subject of packaging.
These questions have been on the minds of our packaging experts for some time now, as you can gradually see in some of our innovations.
I regularly forward your comments, as well as other comments from our customers, to them so that they can keep up to date with what's on your minds and respond accordingly.
You can find lots of exciting background information on our website:
https://generation-m.migros.ch/de/nachhaltig-leben/verpackung.html
Best regards
Kathrin
6 years ago
This is really useful information "What is ecological packaging?"
It would be nice if this article were linked to other threads on the subject. But linking from the cell phone is tedious with some things. Would you do that please @Kathrin_Migros
Lg @Mystery1978
Guest
6 years ago
Paper made from grass would also be an option, which other retailers already use as packaging material.
Guest
6 years ago
Edited
Thank you@Bodenseeknusperli
I find it interesting that those who use grass paper (and of course the manufacturers) claim that it is more ecological, while Migros claims the opposite.
Here is a life cycle assessment from the University of Bonn, according to which grass paper is more ecological than normal or waste paper and, in particular, uses practically no water compared to normal or waste paper:
https://www.h-brs.de/de/oekobilanzierung-graspapier
And unfortunately, I am clearly inclined to believe that Migros is telling an untruth here and that it is all about financial considerations. As with palm oil, experts claim that it is not even possible to grow oil palms ecologically and sustainably. Migros claims the opposite here too. And here, too, I suspect it's all about financial considerations. Migros uses 8 times more palm oil than Coop.
Guest
6 years ago
Hello Riri and Bodenseeknusperli
I'd be happy to take another look at the grass. I'm not entirely sure about that. The basic thing is that we don't currently use degradable organic plastic packaging because it directly competes with food production. It wasn't entirely clear to me at the beginning why organic packaging is now more harmful to the environment. But with life cycle assessments, we don't just look at what happens to the packaging after use, but also how much it impacts the environment before you hold it in your hand. And here plastic often performs better than other methods.
However, we are currently also experimenting with organic waste from industry to see to what extent it is suitable for being "transformed" into packaging.
You probably already know our subpage on the subject, but for everyone else here is the detailed explanation:https://generation-m.migros.ch/de/nachhaltigkeitsthemen/plastik.html
Best regards
Dominik
Guest
6 years ago
A "stolen" story to think about:
When paying at the checkout in the supermarket, the cashier suggests to the old lady paying in front of me that she should bring her shopping bag with her the next time she goes shopping, because plastic bags are bad for the environment.
"You're right," apologizes the old lady, "but unfortunately I was in a hurry and forgot my shopping bag at home, contrary to my habit. The young woman replies:
"Yes you know, because our problem is that your generation hasn't given any thought to the poor state they are leaving the environment in for us and future generations. Environmental protection is certainly a foreign word to you".
"That's true. Our generation didn't know about environmental protection - it wasn't even necessary, because we returned fizzy drinks and beer bottles to the store where we bought them. From there they went to the manufacturer, who washed, sterilized and refilled the bottles so that each bottle was used countless times. We collected the milk from the milk dealer in our own milk can. But we didn't know about environmental protection.
We used shopping nets for our vegetable shopping and our shopping bags for leftovers. If we forgot them, the shopkeeper would put our shopping in brown paper bags, which we used for many purposes at home, e.g. to wrap our school books, which were given to us free of charge by the school on condition that we treated them well. At the end of the school year, they were collected again and passed on to the next year in good condition. But we didn't know environmental protection.
We climbed stairs because there were no elevators or escalators like there are today in every department store or office building. We walked the few steps to the nearest grocery store and didn't use a 300 hp SUV. You're right, we didn't know about environmental protection.
Back then, we washed baby diapers because there were no disposable diapers. We didn't dry the laundry in an electricity-guzzling dryer, but with wind and solar energy on a hemp washing line. The children's clothes always went to their younger siblings, because we couldn't afford to keep buying new children's clothes. But we didn't know how to protect the environment.
We had a single radio in the house and later a small television with a screen the size of a handkerchief. There were no electric machines in the kitchen. Everything was cut, grated and peeled by hand. We used old newspapers as cushioning material for parcels or packages, not polystyrene or plastic bubbles. The lawnmower was pushed by hand and made no noise or smell. That was our fitness training, which is why we didn't need gyms with electric treadmills and other energy-guzzling nonsense. But we didn't know about environmental protection.
We drank water from the tap and didn't need a plastic cup or plastic bottle. We refilled our empty pens with ink instead of buying new ones. Paper was written on both sides. Blunt razor blades were replaced instead of buying a new razor. But we didn't know about environmental protection.
Back then, our children took the bus, streetcar, bicycle or walked to school. There was no 24-hour cab service from their mother in a car costing 50,000 francs. But we didn't know about environmental protection.
There was a socket in every room and no power strips for countless power guzzlers, and we didn't need a system controlled by a satellite 35,000 kilometers away to find the nearest snack bar. However, we didn't know about environmental protection.
But think about it:
It's sad when the younger generation complains about how wastefully we old people lived just because we didn't know about environmental protection? Do they really think we old people need a lecture from you greenhorns? And then from a girl who can't even give me change without consulting the electronic till.
Have a nice day....