This policy could encourage companies to use greener packaging, but states need to be aligned

Standing in your local retail store, it can be mind-boggling to try to weigh the pros and cons of all the packaging options. Take shampoo, for example. Shampoo can come in a rigid plastic bottle, a flexible squeeze tube, a refillable metal canister, or a solid bar in a paperboard box. A viral video of the “packaging guy” from comedian Jimmy Rees highlights just how arbitrary packaging design decisions seem. Trying to make environmentally friendly or socially conscious purchasing decisions can be a challenge, as product packaging can feature various sustainability claims. You might see a product listed as any of the following: recyclable, compostable, refillable, made with recycled content or bio-based materials, carbon- or plastic-neutral, cruelty-free, fair trade, promoting responsible forest management, or a myriad of other labels. Disposing of the empty packaging poses a similar challenge. Which materials are recyclable, compostable, or trash is generally determined at the local municipal level, based on what packaging items regional recycling and compost markets will accept. As an environmental policy researcher, however, I’ve seen the potential in a policy approach gaining tr…