[ProtectOurFreedom]

I grew up in the era before single-use plastics and would be very happy to return to that. Everything worked fine. Manufacturers used glass containers or cardboard. Even breakfast cereal was packaged in simple boxes with non-plastic liners, not the impossible-to-open plastic liners you have today.

Same with Hershey bars -- they were in simple foil-lined paper that slid into a paper sleeve. Today they are packaged in impossible-to-open plastic packaging.

I remember my Dad's "Veto" deodorant which came in a squat, white glass jar with a metal lid.

My Opa gave my dad his WW I safety razor blade sharpener. It was back in the era of the first safety razors with disposable blades (at least they were steel).

I bought my first outdoors water bottle around 1973. It was plastic with a simple screw-on top, but I used it thousands of times refilling from water fountains and spigots.

Of course, I'd be happy with the old black desk phone with the tangled cords.

[BlackVeil]

I agree with you. Packaging could go back to what it was, pre 1975, with no loss of economic progress or convenience. If a product confronts society with long-term problems, then we need to restrict it by law.

I am told that plant based light packaging is a good alternative to soft plastics, and that needs to be looked at.

[ABN 505]

I spent one Christmas in the emergency room after trying to open a plastic wrapped present and slicing my hand down to the bone because it was so tough.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I’d be happy never to see another glass shampoo bottle, and I doubt that toothpaste will ever again be sold in lead tubes. You are right, though, that most plastic packaging could be eliminated.

If recycling made economic sense, people would be bidding for my (unsorted and unwashed) garbage.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Problem is that glass containers are even less recyclable and cost a bunch more to ship.

The boxes of cereal and candy bar wrappers are made that way deliberately so you can not open the package, sneak something in and put it back on the shelf. You can probably thank James Lewis for this. No security is fool proof of course but that is the reason things are made that way.

[ridesthemiles]

MY DESK PHONE IS WHITE—SO IS MY BEDROOM PHONE & MY LIVING ROOM PHONE.

[lightman]

I was aghast when, in the early 80’s, Micky D’s started putting every “eat in” sandwich in a foam box so you could carry it a couple dozen feet to your table.

Now that “might” have made sense during the pandemic paranoia but back then it was just plain wasteful and totally needless.