MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

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Over the last 50 years, we’ve become a disposable society. But as landfills, well, fill up, new habits are needed to turn our outdated thinking around and create a more reusable society. In September, the Reusable Packaging Association presented an educational forum called “Choose Reusables,” to promote the economic benefits and environmental responsibility of using reusable packaging: reduce labor, less product damage, greater transportation efficiency, and improved worker safety. After testing reusable plastic instead of wood pallets at their bottling operation in Oakland, California, Gatorade found that employees no longer have to inspect and repair wood pallets. And John Deere uses a variety of plastic totes, metal crates, wire baskets, and custom racks to ship products big and small. When big companies reuse packaging, not only are they reducing their costs, they’re also reducing the amount of waste that’s going into landfills. We can all find ways to reuse right in our own homes.  I’m Jill Cordes.