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Packaging you hate

(104 Posts)
MrsPickle Fri 24-Sept-21 11:12:42

Sometimes, I like a nice convenience curry sauce.
The ones that come in 3 sachets, enclosed by the instructions, stapled together at the top by a fancy round 'staple'.
I'm sure the makers don't think anyone over the age of 30 will be using them, but, oh boy, getting them opened without losing half the contents is very tedious.

That's my pet hate, but I'm sure there are more...

62Granny Sun 26-Sept-21 15:00:21

Shrink wrapped type packaging around meat and fish although sometimes there is a corner that you should be able to tear away it isn't always easy. Even cutting the hard plastic doesn't always let you get at the contents.

lulusmf Sun 26-Sept-21 14:31:22

DH has had to have 3 types of eye drops for 3 months following an eye op. It is impossible to cut open the sealing plastic ring around the bottles of the drops. How the heck someone with impaired vision would do it I just dont know!! At least DH has me equipped with nail scissors, sharp knife and a pair of tweezers to open rhem for him!

Theoddbird Sun 26-Sept-21 14:30:46

Maggie maybe my point was mainly referring to the word 'hate' in original post. Hate is a very strong word...

As for my other point...people stress too much. It is bad for your health. I don't do stress.

HillyN Sun 26-Sept-21 14:20:43

I bought a pair of scissors that came in a hard plastic packet. I needed the scissors to open it!

SachaMac Sun 26-Sept-21 13:58:51

I agree totally on the comment about toys which often look quite impressive in their colourful oversized fancy packaging. However, by the time you have removed the toy from the box & battled to separate it from the numerous twisted ties, cardboard backing and plastic bubbles for the eagerly awaiting child, you can’t help but feel you haven’t really got much for your money at all. There must be ridiculous amounts of packaging to dispose of at Christmas time, it’s a good job we can recycle some of it.

Granmarderby10 Sun 26-Sept-21 13:46:20

? Grrrr, plastic “kimbals” sp? those nasty plastic loops that are fired into fabric with a gun Double Grrrrr when one end gets retained in the product never to be retrieved. I’m old enough to remember when stores sold socks with a strong sticky label holding them together it had all the info needed and didn’t destroy the garment.

Granmarderby10 Sun 26-Sept-21 13:39:32

I agree with Witzend my I liked the wash powder tablets best as they were less mess than measuring a cup out..plus you could break bits off for a hand wash say. But it seems these have been usurped by the dreaded plastic pods so for me it’s back to the big box powder.
On the subject of those bubble packages: I bought a pair of kitchen scissors ✂️ so wrapped because the old ones had had it……

Bluecat Sun 26-Sept-21 13:34:14

Tins of tomatoes, with or without ring pulls. I can't seem to open them without splattering the juice, usually onto my jumper.

I agree with the comments about blister packs for pills and the skin-tight condoms on cucumbers!

elleks Sun 26-Sept-21 13:26:31

Germanshepherdsmum

All the above plus the childproof boxes Bold pods come in. They’re completely adult-proof as well.

So are the boxes of Fairy pods.

Edith81 Sun 26-Sept-21 13:25:40

I find all packaging a nightmare, always have scissors at the ready. The rigid plastic gets me in a temper, so unnecessary. I belong to Greenpeace who are doing their best with manufacturers and supermarkets to solve this problem.

MrsPickle Sun 26-Sept-21 13:19:41

I'm with you all on everything.
And it was Spice Taylor.

And haven't they found a better way to open corned beef yet? The little keys always seem to disappear before I come to use them.

Kryptonite Sun 26-Sept-21 13:02:57

Cucumbers in plastic!

Maggiemaybe Sun 26-Sept-21 12:48:43

Theoddbird

Hate is a very strong word... I don't like the habit Amazon has of putting small items in very large boxes when they pack for delivery. Other than that I accept however things are packaged. No point in stressing over minor things that you cannot change.

I think there’s every point in stressing, and giving feedback, and complaining to the suppliers. We can be sure that nothing will change if we don’t and the current climate emergency won’t be reigned back at all if nothing changes.

So yes, I do hate all the unnecessary packaging. One of my bugbears not mentioned yet is the cheaper multipack. Four tins shrink-wrapped together to give us 20p or so off the cost. Just let us pick up four and take the discount off at the checkout, for goodness’ sake!

I just buy four and pay the extra, but appreciate that not everyone can do that.

ss1024 Sun 26-Sept-21 12:28:09

I despise plastic packaging of any type and the numerous labels that are attached to clothing with those plastic loops. One loop stating size and price is enough. Also, I have trouble with the childproof caps on over the counter medicines. Whatever happened to parents taking responsibility for minding their children so they don't get into medicines?

cookiemonster66 Sun 26-Sept-21 12:27:57

The plastic boxes that laundry capsules come in, they say 'child-proof' but they are adult proof too, I simply cannot open them. Hubby has to lever them off with a screwdriver and we rip the lids off, stupid things!

gillyknits Sun 26-Sept-21 12:22:15

Just had to open a pack of toothbrushes. I nearly cut my hand on the sharp edge.
I think you’ll find that the reason they put small items in larger packets at Amazon,is because, if they were tiny packages, they would get lost in the van. The driver needs to be able to find them quickly.

Boz Sun 26-Sept-21 12:21:32

I do like pods, I am afraid. Perhaps they shouldn't make them in "sweetie" colours. It is easy for me as once I wrestle a pack open they stay open or I sabotage the closing lock; no children in house on a daily basis.

Frogs Sun 26-Sept-21 12:15:52

Callistemon

Boz

I cant bear those child-safe boxes washing pods come in. I want to sit down and cry. You need two strong hands to open them and on holiday had to get my 10 yr. old grandson to open a box of Daz for me.

They are so dangerous for children if swallowed, in fact I think they should be banned.

Can you change to something else? Back to powder?

I switched to washing pods as I found washing powder was gunking up the tray dispenser on my machine for some reason as it didn’t always dissolve? . Perhaps I should have just thrown it into the drum but I find a get a cleaner wash with the pods.

Severnsider Sun 26-Sept-21 12:10:02

I hate cans with ring pulls. Many times the rings have broken off and I'm terrified of cutting myself when pulling the lid back. And the contents can spill all over.

Hooray for the good old tin opener.

allium Sun 26-Sept-21 12:09:11

Agree with effalump you need super scissors/knife to get into some packaging plus sometimes gloves to protect your hands from getting cut to pieces on the severed packaging!

LtEve Sun 26-Sept-21 12:06:25

Rather than trying to pop pills out of the blister packs I slit the paper/plastic bit with my thumb nail. The pill then pops out easily.

effalump Sun 26-Sept-21 12:03:34

I agree about the hard plastic bubbles which need either hugh scissors or a vert sharp craft knife to get into. Even when they've been cut open the edges of the plastic are lethally sharp.

HurdyGurdy Sun 26-Sept-21 12:02:39

Packs of cold meat etc where you are supposed to be able to take hold of a tiny corner of the pack and peel back to open it.

Never yet managed to do it. I always have to slide a sharp knife around the edges to cut the packet open.

Callistemon Sun 26-Sept-21 12:01:28

Boz

I cant bear those child-safe boxes washing pods come in. I want to sit down and cry. You need two strong hands to open them and on holiday had to get my 10 yr. old grandson to open a box of Daz for me.

They are so dangerous for children if swallowed, in fact I think they should be banned.

Can you change to something else? Back to powder?

Newgran59 Sun 26-Sept-21 11:58:39

With you there Witzend. I've reverted to big box powder, no plastic, recyclable box, all good.