Coffee capsules and multi packs feature in NZ worst packaging award

Single serve aluminium coffee capsules, pre-sliced apples in plastic bags and mini size fruit drinks in cartons are among the finalists in the 2013 Unpackit Packaging Awards.

The organiser of the Unpackit Awards, New Zealand environmental group Wanaka Wastebusters, selected eight finalists from 287 nominations made by consumers this year for the worst packaging award.

Though the public made 424 nominations for both best and worst packaging, bad packaging attracted the most nominations, according to Unpackit spokesperson Sue Coutts.

“Bad packaging is just rubbish after all,” said Coutts. “Multi-packs feature on the worst list with so called ‘convenience’ food’s like Snappz pre-sliced ‘fresh’ apples in plastic bags and Twist mini size fruit drinks in Tetrapak. Both create unnecessary rubbish, contain a small amount of product and come at a premium price.”

New Zealand's coffee habit had also put single use containers back on the worst packaging shortlist, according to Coutts.

“Almost all of Nespresso’s single serve aluminium coffee capsules and the 180 million disposable coffee cups New Zealanders use each year are on a one way trip to the dump.”

The six food and drink packaging finalists for Unpackit Worst packaging award are: disposable coffee cups, Twist tetrapak mini’s, Snappz ‘fresh’ apple multi-packs, Nespresso coffee capsules, fruit and veges on polystyrene meat trays, and the Frenz egg carton.

The “winners” will be chosen by public vote.