Unpackit Worst Packaging Awards Results 2012
1. Plastic wrapped vegetables on a meat tray – Foodstuffs
This year’s winner is Foodstuffs, for selling fruit and vegetables on polystyrene meat-trays,
wrapped in plastic. Produce sold this way includes parsnips, carrots, courgettes, grapes, and
avocados, none of which need to be wrapped. Polystyrene meat-trays are not recycled in most
New Zealand towns, so all this packaging is going straight to landfill.
2. Individually wrapped prunes – Sunsweet Ones
Individually wrapped prunes, contained in a non-recyclable tube, wrapped in plastic. Just
ridiculous – more packaging than product! This past winner of the 2011 Unpackit Worst
Packaging Award gave Foodstuffs a very close race.
3. Meat-tray Madness – Foodstuffs
Four pieces of meat all pre-packaged in meat-trays, then packaged on a big meat tray and
wrapped in more plastic. While it is hard to find an alternative to the meat-tray for meat
packaging, this is really over the top. Two placings of polystyrene in the top three shows the
depth of public dislike of meat-trays, especially as in most towns they end up in the rubbish.
4. Barbie - Mattel
Barbie was a popular choice for the Worst Packaging Award for families with young children. Her
packaging is completely over-the-top compared to the size of the actual Barbie, plastic type is
not identified so can’t be recycled. Frustration factor - time-consuming and tricky to unwrap.
5. Disposable Coffee Cup
100 million disposable cups go to landfill in NZ every year – causing a massive amount of
unnecessary waste; 100 million crushed cups would build a tower as high as the Sky. Paper can
break down in a landfill causing methane release in a landfill where methane is not captured.
6. Shapes Multi-Pack – Arnotts
The same crackers are sold in a larger cardboard box, and can be put into individual containers
for lunches, avoiding litter and extra waste.
7. Toothbrush Heads – Oral B
Large amount of packaging for two tiny toothbrush heads, plastic cover has no plastic
identification number. Packaging has generic recycling symbol which could confuse customers.
8. Noodles in a Cup – Fantastic
Disposable polystyrene cup going to landfill in most towns, can use own cup.
Unpackit Best Packaging Awards Results 2012
1. Bulk bin stores – Bin Inn
This New Zealand co-operative has 33 stores in New Zealand. Their bulk bin system is set up to
encourage shoppers to reuse their own containers for a large range of products. Bin Inn stores
sell recyclable containers if customers forget to bring their own. Their philosophy has always
been to “pay for the product, not the packaging”, which minimises packaging waste and lessens
the impact on the environment.
2. Compostable takeaway tray – Potatopak
New Zealand made take-away container made from waste potato starch, compostable at
home or in an industrial compost. Clearly labeled as home compostable, has the potential to
replace a large amount of take-away containers going to landfill. Winner of the 2011 Unpackit
Best Packaging Award.
3. Recyclable lunch box – Nude Food Movers
This lunch box is sturdy and long-lasting, with child appeal – practical way for parents to avoid
prepackaged snacks. All plastic components are stamped with recycling identification number.
4. Ideal Cup – Celsius
This New Zealand designed and manufactured coffee cup is designed to be taken into cafés and
refilled over and over again. The cup is designed to fit under a standard coffee machine. Both
the cup and lid are labeled with plastic identification numbers for recycling.
5. Automatic Dishwasher Tablets – Ecostore
These tablets are individually wrapped in a PVA biodegradable wrapper that dissolves in the
dishwasher. Tablets are pre-measured, preventing excess powder use. The cardboard box is
made from 85% recycled material.
6. Biodegradable Superwipes – Chux
Packaging for this product is made entirely from cardboard (100% recyclable) with cut-away
section to see the superwipes. Minimum 50% recycled cardboard, printed with soy-based inks.
7. iPhone 4 – Apple
Extremely minimal packaging – only just fits phone and components. Packaging for the iPhone
has been reduced by 42 between 2007 and 2010. Packaging is almost entirely recyclable, and the
cardboard box is made from 90% recycled content.
8. Compostable coffee bag – Caffe Prima
Innovative packaging using new technology to solve an old problem– how to keep coffee fresh
on the shelf without using packaging which is going to end up in the landfill. The New Zealandmade compostable bag meets European compostability standards for industrial composting. The
New Zealand manufacturer says it can also be put in home compost, but will take longer to
break down.