We’ve all heard of excess packaging, but this is absurd

Recently had a box delivered. That’s it in the picture above. By my measurement, its 370 x 495 mm (14.5 x 19.5 inches). Not shown – the packing material in the box, to stop the card from rattling around.

The part I ordered on the ’Net? The small dark rectangle in the middle of the card. Up close, it looks like this:


SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive
Credit: SanDisk

Sandisk says it’s 12.1 x 4.6 x 53.0 mm¹ (0.48 x 0.18 x 2.1 inches). As far as I'm aware, Sandisk doesn't quote a spec on that absurd, oversize card it’s attached to in the image at the top.

Initially, this article was headed: “We’ve all heard of excess packaging, but this may be a record” – obviously had to change it on seeing the the image below:


Credit: Emily-Jane Clark

Emily-Jane Clark (pictured) received the “spider catcher” she's holding, in the box she's crouching in.

More from Emily-Jane Clark at: https://metro.co.uk/2017/10/04/10-examples-of-ridiculously-pointless-packaging-6976457/

Excess packaging & online shopping – When convenience costs the Earth
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/packaging/articles/excess-packaging-and-online-shopping

Changing the Culture of Excess [Packaging]
https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/saying-no-to-excessive-packaging/
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¹ SanDisk: “The iXpand Mini Flash Drive For Your iPhone”, https://www.sandisk.com/home/mobile-device-storage/ixpand-mini

/ tonnes consumer packaging landfill packaging litter overall recycling rate consumer packaging volume of packaging material mail postal system grown increasing popularity online shopping clicks plastic foam paper cardboard packing packed retailers transport transit transportation companies take responsibility damaged products bulk up buffer packaging cost environment extra material costing money creating new problem re-use re use recycle discarded recycling lighter more compact packaging more stuff being shipped consumers greater volume packaging higher product prices increased fees for recycling consumers concerned excess packaging retailers e-commerce companies minimise packaging lobby local government local councils state governments environmental organisations information on recycling understand the size of the problem /