Name: _______________________________ Period: _______
Chapter 16
Overpackaging
Problem How does the packaging of a product affect its cost per unit and the potential cost of the solid
waste it produces?
Background
Too Much Packaging?
Suppose you buy a new ink cartridge for your computer’s printer. First you open a plastic container.
Inside the container is a box with assorted papers and instruction sheets. When you open the box, you
find a small sealed foil pouch. Inside the pouch is the actual ink cartridge. Your new ink cartridge is
overpackaged.
Americans enjoy many products that are packaged for our convenience. This packaging is often
necessary to protect the product during shipping and to make it easier to transport—but the packaging
can be excessive. There are two problems with overpackaging. First, raw materials to make the
packaging are wasted, and most of the packaging materials end up in our overflowing landfills. Second,
a lot of packaging material is made of plastics that are not recycled, and because plastics aren't
biodegradable, they last for hundreds of years. Overpackaging is a cost both to the environment and
society.
Materials
• single large package of raisins
• multi-pack package of raisins
• scissors
• metric ruler
• calculator – can use electronic device
Procedure
Step 1
Your teacher will give your group a package of individual "mini-boxes" of raisins. There is
also one large cylinder package of raisins in a single container circulating around the room.
Your teacher will tell you the cost of each package. Record the costs in Data Table 1.
Step 2
In Data Table 1, record the number of individual mini-boxes in the package.
Step 3
Calculate the cost of each container or individual mini-box. Record the costs in Data Table 1.
Step 4
Record the mass, in grams, of the raisins in a mini-box and in a single container.
Step 5
Calculate and record the cost per gram of raisins. Use cents rather than dollars since the cost
per gram of raisins is small.
Step 6
Carefully cut open the outer packaging material for the individual mini-boxes of raisins and
remove the mini-boxes. Measure the dimensions of the outer packaging and record them in
Data Table 2]. (See “Build Math Skills” for tips that will help with steps 6 through 10.)
Step 7
Measure the dimensions of one of the mini-boxes and record them in Data Table 2.
Step 8
Remove any outer packaging that may be present on the single container. Measure the
dimensions of the single container and record them in Data Table 2. For a cylindrical
container, measure the diameter of the round top (or bottom) and the height of the container.
Step 9
Calculate and record the total surface area of all the packaging material in the package of
mini-boxes in Data Table 2. First calculate the surface area of the outer packaging, then the
surface area of one mini-box, and finally the surface area of all the mini-boxes.
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Step 10 Calculate the total surface area of all the packaging material of the single container and record
it in Data Table 2.
Step 11 For each of the two packages of raisins, calculate the surface area of packaging per gram of
raisins. Your answer will be in units of cm2/g. Record your results in Data Table 2.
Step 12 Clean up your work area and dispose of the materials according to your teacher's directions. Wash your
hands thoroughly.
ARE YOUR MATH SKILLS RUSTY? REFRESH THEM HERE.
In this lab, you will calculate the surface area of some product packaging.
Remember that a rectangular box has three pairs of identical sides: front and
back, top and bottom, and the two other sides.
To find the total surface area of the box, measure the dimensions of one side
of each identical pair—for example, the top, front, and left side—and then
multiply each of those surface areas by 2. Then add up all three products to get
the total surface area of the box.
For example, if the front of a cereal box is 28 × 40 cm, the top is 28 × 8 cm,
and the left side is 40 × 8, the first calculations are:
(28 × 40) × 2 = 2240 cm2
(28 × 8)  2 = 448 cm2
(40 × 8) × 2 = 640 cm2
Add those products up to get the total surface area:
2240 + 448 + 640 = 3328 cm2
To calculate the surface area of a cylindrical package, use the
formula:
Surface area of cylinder = 2r2 + h (2r)
where  = 3.14,
r is the radius of the can, and
h is the height of the can.
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Observe and Collect Data
1. Fill in Data Table 1 with the data you collect and calculate.
Data Table 1
Multi-pack of Individual
Mini-boxes
Single Large Container
Total cost of package
Number of mini-boxes
————
Cost per mini-box
————
Mass of raisins in
individual box (g)
Cost of raisins,
per gram
2. Fill in Data Table 2 with the data you collect and calculate.
Data Table 2
Multi-pack of Mini-boxes
Dimensions of outer
packaging (cm)
H=
L=
W=
Dimensions of inner
packaging (cm)
H=
L=
W=
Single Large Container
R=
H=
————
Surface area of outer
packaging (cm2)
Total surface area of
inner packaging (cm2)
————
Total surface area of
all packaging (cm2)
Surface area of
packaging per gram
of raisins (cm2/g)
Analyze and Conclude
3. Compare How does the cost per gram of raisins in a single container compare with the cost per
gram in a multi-pack? Based on your calculations, which type of packaging—single-container or
multi-pack—is more economical?
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4. Compare How does the surface area of packaging per gram in a single container compare with the
surface area of packaging per gram in a multi-pack? Based on your calculations, which type of
packaging—single container or multi-pack—consumes fewer resources?
5. Analyze Data Is there a relationship between cost per gram and surface area of packaging per gram
of raisins? Explain.
6. Infer What might be some possible advantages to packaging food items in small mini-boxes? List
specific environmental or economic advantages.
7. Infer What other packaging would be associated with the packages of raisins when they are shipped
from the producer?
8. Apply Concepts What does this lab suggest about how food choices can affect your ecological
footprint? What can you do to lessen the impact?
9. Extension Some large food retailers sell very large food packages(for example, gallon-size jars of salsa).
Clearly, such packages exhibit quite high food-to-packaging ratios—you get a lot of food with comparatively
little packaging. Are very large food packages like these more or less environmentally friendly than
conventionally sized food packages? Explain your answer.
10. Extra Credit Challenge You have one week to find the worst offender of product to packaging
ratio. This item may already be lurking in your house and you do not know it. Bring in the
packaging of an item in which the amount of packaging compared to product is excessive. You
will also need to submit your math, with all work shown, which details how much packaging
there is (in cm2 per gram – or other unit if required, depending on nature of package). I will give
extra credit to the best examples (one from each period).
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