this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2024
63 points (93.2% liked)

Asklemmy

42523 readers
1518 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy ๐Ÿ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_[email protected]~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I live in Europe but sometimes shop at Asian supermarkets here. One of the things I notice with almost everything I buy there is that plastic packaging feels a lot thicker than that on European products. Is there a rational reason for this? Are plastics simply cheaper? Or do people worry more that products might spoil? Are these different types of plastics?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I doubt that. For one, it's not just exported foods โ€” similar types of packaging are used at least in Japan domestically.

For two, I'd presume that in either case, domestic and export, the retail packaging is shipped within a carton within a carton and then wrapped in cling foil and placed on a palette. Iow, the packaging shouldn't need to be hardier for export, because the outer layer(s) of corrugated cardboard and extra plastic should take any occurring damage.

[โ€“] Cort 4 points 3 months ago

I know on the multiple boxes issue it's because of differing rules on wall thickness & sturdiness from country to country. So I'm wondering if there's a country that requires a specific plastic thickness for products. Then it would just be the manufacturer using the lowest common denominator that works worldwide, instead of having multiple SKUs or having to repackage it.