We’re long past the point whereclimate changehas started to impact our planet.Natural disastersare happening more frequently, the Earth is warming, and many of us are desperate to do whatever we can to reduce our carbon footprints. So why in the world are companies still using excessive amounts of plastic and packaging when selling their products?Bored Pandahas scoured the internet and found some of the most egregious examples ofwasteful packagingon items and gathered them below. Try not to become too infuriated while scrolling through this list, pandas, and keep reading to find conversations with Kris Bordessa ofAttainable Sustainableand Amber McDaniel, Head of Content atSustainable Jungle!This post may includeaffiliate links.

We’re long past the point whereclimate changehas started to impact our planet.Natural disastersare happening more frequently, the Earth is warming, and many of us are desperate to do whatever we can to reduce our carbon footprints. So why in the world are companies still using excessive amounts of plastic and packaging when selling their products?

Bored Pandahas scoured the internet and found some of the most egregious examples ofwasteful packagingon items and gathered them below. Try not to become too infuriated while scrolling through this list, pandas, and keep reading to find conversations with Kris Bordessa ofAttainable Sustainableand Amber McDaniel, Head of Content atSustainable Jungle!

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Plastic tags and a sock label exemplifying wasteful unnecessary packaging on a wooden surface.

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Oranges covered in plastic wrap, showcasing wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Plastic cups with a single blueberry, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging in a grocery store.

To learn more about why excessive packaging is so harmful, we reached out to sustainability expertKris Bordessa, certified Master Food Preserver and award-winningbook author.“There are so many reasons that plastic packaging is bad for the environment! First, plastic is a petroleum product. The extraction and transport of fossil fuels used to make plastic products produces emissions that impact our air quality,” she explained. “Then there’s the matter of waste management. Sure, some containers from, say, yogurt, can be reused in the kitchen, but an awful lot of plastic packaging is destined for the landfill.““Then there’s the resulting micro-plastics,” Kris continued. “These bits of plastic end up in the ocean, on our beaches, and in the bellies of fish and birds. Microscopic bits of plastic matter have even been found in every part of the human body, including in breast milk.”

To learn more about why excessive packaging is so harmful, we reached out to sustainability expertKris Bordessa, certified Master Food Preserver and award-winningbook author.

“There are so many reasons that plastic packaging is bad for the environment! First, plastic is a petroleum product. The extraction and transport of fossil fuels used to make plastic products produces emissions that impact our air quality,” she explained. “Then there’s the matter of waste management. Sure, some containers from, say, yogurt, can be reused in the kitchen, but an awful lot of plastic packaging is destined for the landfill.”

“Then there’s the resulting micro-plastics,” Kris continued. “These bits of plastic end up in the ocean, on our beaches, and in the bellies of fish and birds. Microscopic bits of plastic matter have even been found in every part of the human body, including in breast milk.”

Coconuts with unnecessary plastic packaging in a supermarket display.

Excessive plastic used to wrap a single wooden spoon, demonstrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Unnecessary packaging in a plastic tray with wooden cutlery and price tag, highlighting wasteful practices.

We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Amber McDaniel, Head of Content atSustainable Jungleto hear her thoughts on this topic. She noted that plastic packaging is a huge problem for a few reasons: non-biodegradability, microplastic pollution and fossil fuels.

“Since plastics don’t biodegrade back into natural elements as organic materials do, they can only break down into smaller and smaller microplastics, which contaminate soil, water, and air, affecting wildlife and not entering human food chains, as numerous studies and evidence show,” she continued. Amber also noted that we’re now finding microplastics in everything from human blood and brains to breast milk and placentae.

“Plastic production obviously relies heavily on fossil fuels, which only reinforces our dependency on the fossil fuel industry,” Amber added.

Colorful bell peppers wrapped in unnecessary packaging on a supermarket shelf, highlighting wasteful practices.

Excessive packaging with crumpled paper inside a large cardboard box for a single small book.

Shared with permission from a buddy of mine. looks like they opened a PC water case and repackaged it to sell in 3 packs? no clue how much they priced them at but it better not be for the “839” that they’re all stickered with.

Bottled water in wasteful packaging on store shelf, highlighting unnecessary plastic use.

So why do companies continue to package products like we see on this list here? “I think they’ve gotten so used to using plastic that they aren’t even thinking about alternatives or how this packaging damages the environment,” Kris says.

“In other regions, plastic is taken in for recycling, but where does that end up? It’s often shipped to other countries, passing our waste problem on to them. It’s estimated that less than 10% of America’s plastic waste is actually recycled,” Kris shared. “It important to remember that there is no ‘away’ when we toss our waste. You may have removed it from your home, but it’s still out there becoming someone else’s problem.”

Potatoes wrapped in unnecessary plastic packaging at a grocery store, highlighting wasteful practices.

Carrots each wrapped in plastic, demonstrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Stack of paper plates wrapped in excessive plastic, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

“I think this ultimately comes down to price and convenience. Plastic is cheap for companies to buy (far cheaper than more eco-friendly alternatives anyway), yet it ironically can make a product look more expensive,” Amber says. “Its lightweight nature makes it appealing from a company standpoint as well because lighter products/packaging mean lighter shipments, which cost less in postage, too. Plus, alternatives like glass are breakable, so then companies would need to devise ways to protect and pad these items without relying on the very plastic they’re using glass to avoid.”

Large box with tiny item inside, illustrating wasteful packaging.

“Branding is another factor; companies use packaging to showcase logos, designs, and product details as a way to grab your attention,” the expert continued. “Sometimes it’s just about convenience—many businesses rely on standard-sized boxes or materials, which might not be the perfect fit for every product, leading to extra waste. While it might seem excessive to consumers, for companies, it’s often about balancing marketing, logistics, and practicality.”

Unnecessary packaging of omeprazole with multiple empty bottles and two empty boxes.

Long brown box on the floor next to a small wreath box, highlighting unnecessary packaging.

Hand holding an olive encased in unnecessary packaging.

Unfortunately, Amber also says that, realistically, not very much of this plastic can be recycled. “While a lot of soft plastics that make up packaging are technically recyclable, being Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), or plastic #4, they’re not widely recycled because it’s a big hazard to machinery to do so,” she explained.“Soft plastics are known for jamming up and breaking recycling machinery, so a lot of companies just refuse them. And unless you live in a fairly large metro area (at least here where I am in the US, where our recycling infrastructure is notably terrible on all fronts), most people don’t even have the option to recycle soft plastics,” Amber continued.

Unfortunately, Amber also says that, realistically, not very much of this plastic can be recycled. “While a lot of soft plastics that make up packaging are technically recyclable, being Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), or plastic #4, they’re not widely recycled because it’s a big hazard to machinery to do so,” she explained.

“Soft plastics are known for jamming up and breaking recycling machinery, so a lot of companies just refuse them. And unless you live in a fairly large metro area (at least here where I am in the US, where our recycling infrastructure is notably terrible on all fronts), most people don’t even have the option to recycle soft plastics,” Amber continued.

Hand holding a coconut wrapped in plastic, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

“For example, I live in a very small town in the west, and unless it’s a #1 or #2 plastic bottle (it has to be a bottle, no other form) my local recycling facility flat out does not accept it, and there’s no alternative even in my entire state that I’m aware of. Even other countries that have better recycling systems in place, like Australia, supposedly only recycle about16%of plastic packaging each year, so the numbers are quite dismal,” Amber told Bored Panda.“And when people try to recycle something they shouldn’t (something referred to as ‘wish cycling’), it’s even more harmful because then this contaminates other recyclables and leads to entire batches just being thrown away.”

“For example, I live in a very small town in the west, and unless it’s a #1 or #2 plastic bottle (it has to be a bottle, no other form) my local recycling facility flat out does not accept it, and there’s no alternative even in my entire state that I’m aware of. Even other countries that have better recycling systems in place, like Australia, supposedly only recycle about16%of plastic packaging each year, so the numbers are quite dismal,” Amber told Bored Panda.

“And when people try to recycle something they shouldn’t (something referred to as ‘wish cycling’), it’s even more harmful because then this contaminates other recyclables and leads to entire batches just being thrown away.”

Cans wrapped in excessive plastic, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging in a supermarket setting.

Stack of Amazon boxes illustrating wasteful packaging for a single plate.

Oversized box containing a single pen highlights wasteful unnecessary packaging.

So what advice would these experts give to anyone who wants to cut back on how much plastic packaging they use and purchase? “Reducing our household use of plastic starts with being aware,” Kris says. “What does your trash can look like when it’s full? Look at the plastic items and determine if there’s a different option. If you’re going through a lot of juice jugs, consider shifting to a frozen juice concentrate. Salad dressing is easy to make at home, which can eliminate more plastic.““Another thing is that unless we are letting companies know that we have a problem with the amount of plastic they’re using, they’re going to just keep on using it,” she added. “I am a big proponent of contacting corporations and letting them know that I’d like to see an alternative.”

So what advice would these experts give to anyone who wants to cut back on how much plastic packaging they use and purchase? “Reducing our household use of plastic starts with being aware,” Kris says. “What does your trash can look like when it’s full? Look at the plastic items and determine if there’s a different option. If you’re going through a lot of juice jugs, consider shifting to a frozen juice concentrate. Salad dressing is easy to make at home, which can eliminate more plastic.”

“Another thing is that unless we are letting companies know that we have a problem with the amount of plastic they’re using, they’re going to just keep on using it,” she added. “I am a big proponent of contacting corporations and letting them know that I’d like to see an alternative.”

Large cardboard box with small makeup items inside, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Large box with unnecessary packaging for a single glass, highlighting wasteful packaging practices.

Long cardboard box with a single roll of wrapping paper highlights wasteful unnecessary packaging.

“The best choice is packaging that’s compostable, such as a paper or cardboard-wrapped shampoo bar versus a plastic bottle of shampoo, or a cardboard tube of deodorant. If compostable packaging isn’t available, look for reusable packaging, like glass jars, though noting this is really only much better of the person actually intends to try to reuse and repurpose,” the expert continued.

“There are also more and more companies offering refill schemes these days, like The Good Fill or Greatfill Basically, they send products in a plastic refill pouch, which you can use to fill your own container (or buy one to reuse from them) then send the empty pouch back to be cleaned and reused.”

Oversized cardboard box with wasteful unnecessary packaging for a small item.

Amber says buying in bulk is another simple way to reduce waste, especially if you bring your own reusable containers. “Refill stations are also becoming more common, especially in metro areas, so you can top up on things like detergents, shampoos, and other essentials without creating more waste,” she shared.“And yes, sometimes plastic packaging is unavoidable, but it doesn’t necessarily need to get thrown away. Get creative with packaging—reuse it for storage, crafts, or other practical purposes to give it a second life before recycling,” Amber continued. “For example, if I get a plastic poly bag or a plastic mailer bag, I save these and then use them to protect items that I mail if I resell old clothes on a platform like eBay. That way I know it’s at least getting one more use before being thrown away.”

Amber says buying in bulk is another simple way to reduce waste, especially if you bring your own reusable containers. “Refill stations are also becoming more common, especially in metro areas, so you can top up on things like detergents, shampoos, and other essentials without creating more waste,” she shared.

“And yes, sometimes plastic packaging is unavoidable, but it doesn’t necessarily need to get thrown away. Get creative with packaging—reuse it for storage, crafts, or other practical purposes to give it a second life before recycling,” Amber continued. “For example, if I get a plastic poly bag or a plastic mailer bag, I save these and then use them to protect items that I mail if I resell old clothes on a platform like eBay. That way I know it’s at least getting one more use before being thrown away.”

Empty candy wrapper of Haribo Giant Strawbs, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Chocolate bunny with wasteful unnecessary packaging of multiple plastic bags on a wooden table.

Kris also added that she often sees “compostable” plastic products that food vendors like to use as an eco-friendly option, but these aren’t as great as they seem. “They are still plastic, and they are compostable ONLY in special commercial facilities which are few and far between,” she explained. “It’s greenwashing to make people feel better about their daily to-go cup of coffee, unfortunately.”

Excessive packaging with styrofoam and tape containing a small item, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Cardboard boxes with wasteful packaging materials, revealing small items inside.

“Ultimately, reducing plastic packaging is a systemic challenge that requires collective action,” Amber says. “Consumers can do their part, but companies and governments also need to adopt circular economy principles, invest in better recycling infrastructure, and innovate in sustainable packaging. Education and awareness are key to driving this change—sustainability can only become truly accessible when the system evolves to make greener choices the default.”

Unnecessary packaging: a large yellow blister pack with a single round pill, highlighting wastefulness.

Curly leaf parsley in oversized packaging, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging in a grocery store.

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Plastic bags of oranges on display, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging in a grocery store setting.

Over-packaged oven mitts in a box with excessive protective air pillows highlighting wasteful packaging.

Large empty box with smaller box labeled “Free Box of Air,” illustrating wasteful packaging.

Plastic-wrapped potatoes on display in a store, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Hand holding plastic-wrapped red pepper in a store, showcasing wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Plastic straws in excessive packaging on a marble countertop, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Hand holding oversized plastic package with small item inside, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Facial tissues in excessive packaging held in a store aisle, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Large empty box with a small bottle of ear drops, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Oral-B toothbrush heads in wasteful, unnecessary packaging.

Large cardboard box with wasteful, unnecessary packaging materials inside on a grassy background.

Jars with wasteful unnecessary packaging in a wire basket at a store.

Large box with wasteful packaging delivered on a doorstep, highlighting unnecessary use of materials.

Nuts packaged in individual plastic bags, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging on a metal surface.

Slice of bread in plastic wrap on a table, demonstrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Excessive packaging waste with multiple boxes and plastic fillers for small items on a tile floor.

See Also on Bored Panda

Large box with wasteful unnecessary packaging for a small Versace item inside.

Plastic bags covering individual items on a kitchen counter, highlighting wasteful packaging.

Orange bell peppers with wasteful packaging in plastic wrap.

Open cardboard box labeled “Made with Less Material” beside a small wallet, illustrating wasteful packaging.

Empty boxes with unnecessary packaging around small shot glasses, illustrating wasteful packaging.

Excessive plastic and cardboard packaging inside a toy box, highlighting the issue of wasteful and unnecessary materials used.

This is so annoying. I’m not sure why my doctor did 30 days supply with 12 refills. This is a new doctor, and my previous would have done 90 days supply with four refills.Still, this is ridiculous. Getting these pills out is a pain with the narrower neck, and the bottle is simply too big. Plenty of waste here that isn’t necessary.

Prescription bottle mostly empty, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging for pills.

Unnecessary packaging for Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor, showcasing wasteful design.

Plastic packaging enclosing a small knife, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging practices.

Long box with small item inside, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Sneakers wrapped in plastic, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging, displayed on shelves in a clothing store.

Unnecessary packaging with electronics on an orange background, highlighting wasteful practices.

Excessive packaging surrounds a small label in a large box, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging practices.

Packaged watermelon slices and plastic bottles highlight wasteful, unnecessary packaging.

Cardboard box with wasteful unnecessary packaging, filled with packing peanuts for a tiny item beside it on a wooden floor.

Excessive packaging with a small item inside a large cardboard box filled with brown paper.

Orange in wasteful unnecessary plastic packaging on a table.

Oversized box with a small battery inside, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Cardboard box filled with wasteful unnecessary packaging for small items, illustrating excessive material use.

Large box with small items and excessive bubble wrap, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Excessive unnecessary packaging displayed on a bed, illustrating wasteful practices.

Unnecessary packaging of Pixy Stix on a styrofoam tray in a store.

Individually wrapped jelly beans in plastic highlight wasteful, unnecessary packaging.

A hand holding a chocolate-dipped cone in decorative unnecessary packaging with snowflakes.

Unnecessary packaging with multiple plastic bags for small items on a wooden table.

A small product box surrounded by excessive packing peanuts, illustrating wasteful packaging practices.

Excessive plastic packaging for cutlery set spread across a table, highlighting unnecessary waste.

Oversized box with a single toothpaste tube inside, illustrating wasteful packaging.

Large open cardboard box with a stick and ball toy, illustrating wasteful packaging.

All of the pills in the bottles in the third picture fit in the 2 bottles in the 2nd picture.

Bottles of medication illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging on a cluttered kitchen counter.

Pack of razor cartridges in large plastic packaging, illustrating wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Excessive packaging shown with omeprazole bottles and pills on a table, highlighting wasteful practices.

Large box with unnecessary packaging for a small item inside.

Two slices of bread individually wrapped in plastic, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Large envelope with unnecessary packaging for a small item, highlighting wasteful practices.

Packaged mangoes with recyclable wrap, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging in stores.

Excessive packaging displayed in a store shelf showing unnecessary use of plastic materials.

Check out this absurd packaging for an order I got from BYREDO… are they a high end perfumery or the Easter Bunny? Also the box is way too massive for these three things. I had to dig around in the paper shavings for far too long. It was like a needle in a haystack. They need a smaller box and to ditch the paper shavings.

Box with excessive yellow crinkle paper and small perfume samples, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Large box with smaller packages inside at the front door, highlighting wasteful packaging.

See that litter baggie in the bottom left? That’s it.

Large mailing bag highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging for a small item.

A small item being taken from a large box with excessive paper, highlighting wasteful unnecessary packaging.

Slices of bread individually wrapped in plastic, highlighting wasteful, unnecessary packaging.

Fruit display with bananas, oranges, and apples wrapped in plastic, highlighting unnecessary packaging in grocery stores.

Mucinex sore throat lozenges with wasteful unnecessary packaging on a white table.

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