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17 Completely Nonsense Yet Real Packaging Examples
From the wasteful to the redundant, here are some examples of packaging ideas gone wrong.
By Loukia Papadopoulos
November 29, 2019
1, 2
Packaging is a tricky thing. It is an absolute requirement in our current lives but a tricky endeavor to do right.
Depending on the fragility and size of the products, packaging needs to take many varied and complex forms.
Engineering those forms is not an easy task, and as such we try not to be too hard on modern-day manufacturers. However, some examples are so illogical they cannot be ignored.
1. The crowded umbrella
This Reddit user ordered an umbrella from Amazon. Little did he know it would arrive drowning in paper packaging. But nothing was lost! The crafty Redditor used it to make himself a paper toga.
Source: GallowBoob/Reddit
2. The foamy charging cube
This little guy was surrounded by several layers of foam.
3. The redundant environmental failure
We thought Imgur user thenamenonehas did a great job of explaining this packaging mishap by saying: "If only bananas had robust, natural, bio-degradable packaging of their own. Some sort of peelable skin, perhaps."
Source: thenamenonehas/Imgur
4. The open space
I guess this tiny electronic was claustrophobic. It came in a box 20 times its size.
5. The individually packaged mini sausages
The title says it all. Yes, someone thought it might be a good idea to wrap in plastic every single individual mini sausage. Aside from being costly and ecologically unwise, it must be quite annoying if you want more than just one of these treats.
Source: Undocumented Tuesday/Reddit
6. The broom in a coffin
Ok, the broom did not come in an actual coffin but this packaging can definitely double as one.
7. The testy candy
These individually wrapped jelly beans must be super annoying to eat and not to mention the amount of waste they generate.
8. You won't get your pepper
I am sure these pepper manufacturers did not want to stop their clients from consuming their products. But you have got to wonder why they made the packaging so hard to open.
9. The genuine coconut
In another case of wasting resources to package a fruit with one of nature's most resilient natural packaging, this company thought it might be wise to offer plastic covered coconuts. And please note that they are genuine coconuts.
Source: jonnyoption/Reddit
10. The avocado halves
We're pretty sure it would take less time to peel, cut and de-pit real avocados than it would to open these overpackaged alternatives. It would also be much less environmentally damaging.
11. Bananas packaged again! Now in a plastic box
Well, at least this time they put a few in a pack.
Source: radioactivecowz/Reddit
12. The scissors that need scissors
How do you get to your scissors without scissors? Now that is a dilemma!
13. Sliced and separated
We have all heard of sliced bread but did you know the slices can be further individually wrapped? Unfortunately, they can.
Source: IamRasters/Reddit
14. The lonely garlic bulb
Maybe it is a purse carry-on? You know, for in case you run into a vampire while you are out and about.
15. The Double Trouble
What do you pack packaging in? Well in more packaging of course.
Source: davedawg2000/Reddit
We had some fun pointing out these mostly environmentally faulty packaging alternatives but in the end, we know how hard innovation can be. As such, we give kudos to these manufacturers for doing their best at coming up with new ideas. May we suggest thinking more sustainably in the future?
17 Completely Nonsense Yet Real Packaging Examples
From the wasteful to the redundant, here are some examples of packaging ideas gone wrong.
By Loukia Papadopoulos
November 29, 2019

1, 2
Packaging is a tricky thing. It is an absolute requirement in our current lives but a tricky endeavor to do right.
Depending on the fragility and size of the products, packaging needs to take many varied and complex forms.
Engineering those forms is not an easy task, and as such we try not to be too hard on modern-day manufacturers. However, some examples are so illogical they cannot be ignored.
1. The crowded umbrella
This Reddit user ordered an umbrella from Amazon. Little did he know it would arrive drowning in paper packaging. But nothing was lost! The crafty Redditor used it to make himself a paper toga.

2. The foamy charging cube
This little guy was surrounded by several layers of foam.
https://twitter.com/Over_Packagedhttps://twitter.com/Over_Packaged
https://twitter.com/Over_Packaged/status/732242078210478080
All this packaging for a small charging cube?! Unbelievable. #OverPackaged
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=732242078210478080
3. The redundant environmental failure
We thought Imgur user thenamenonehas did a great job of explaining this packaging mishap by saying: "If only bananas had robust, natural, bio-degradable packaging of their own. Some sort of peelable skin, perhaps."

4. The open space
I guess this tiny electronic was claustrophobic. It came in a box 20 times its size.
https://twitter.com/Over_Packagedhttps://twitter.com/Over_Packaged
https://twitter.com/Over_Packaged/status/732252924823240704
We're calling you out @amazon! Our diss track is coming, and it's gonna be fire!!
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=732252924823240704
5. The individually packaged mini sausages
The title says it all. Yes, someone thought it might be a good idea to wrap in plastic every single individual mini sausage. Aside from being costly and ecologically unwise, it must be quite annoying if you want more than just one of these treats.

6. The broom in a coffin
Ok, the broom did not come in an actual coffin but this packaging can definitely double as one.
https://twitter.com/dianaroughhttps://twitter.com/dianarough
https://twitter.com/dianarough/status/865522620338364416
@amazon Amazon packaging reaching new levels of extreme... I only ordered a broom... #amazon #excessivepackaging
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=865522620338364416
7. The testy candy
These individually wrapped jelly beans must be super annoying to eat and not to mention the amount of waste they generate.
https://twitter.com/jillianiles/status/653308749306658816
Individually wrapped jellybeans are a thing?
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=653308749306658816
8. You won't get your pepper
I am sure these pepper manufacturers did not want to stop their clients from consuming their products. But you have got to wonder why they made the packaging so hard to open.
https://twitter.com/plainbutpunchyhttps://twitter.com/plainbutpunchy
https://twitter.com/plainbutpunchy/status/1036860904443404288
Good example for bad #packaging: It takes a sharp knife and a lot of patience to take off the plastic wrapping from the top of these pepper mills... And a little bit of luck not to hurt yourself during this action. #packagingdesign #timetomakeitbetter
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1036860904443404288
9. The genuine coconut
In another case of wasting resources to package a fruit with one of nature's most resilient natural packaging, this company thought it might be wise to offer plastic covered coconuts. And please note that they are genuine coconuts.

10. The avocado halves
We're pretty sure it would take less time to peel, cut and de-pit real avocados than it would to open these overpackaged alternatives. It would also be much less environmentally damaging.
https://twitter.com/PaulBertonhttps://twitter.com/PaulBerton/status/704018550969798656
Over packaged avocados! ("100 per cent") What next?
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=704018550969798656
11. Bananas packaged again! Now in a plastic box
Well, at least this time they put a few in a pack.

12. The scissors that need scissors
How do you get to your scissors without scissors? Now that is a dilemma!
https://twitter.com/katiehaygarthhttps://twitter.com/katiehaygarth/status/1037764540086280194
I bought some scissors today... needed scissors to get into the packet... #fail #irony #Packaging #scissor
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1037764540086280194
13. Sliced and separated
We have all heard of sliced bread but did you know the slices can be further individually wrapped? Unfortunately, they can.

14. The lonely garlic bulb
Maybe it is a purse carry-on? You know, for in case you run into a vampire while you are out and about.
https://twitter.com/source_garden/status/1038403223953068032https://twitter.com/source_garden/status/1038403223953068032
Seriously @sainsburys, do you really need to package a single garlic bulb??? #plasticwaste #environment @GreenpeaceUK
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1038403223953068032
15. The Double Trouble
What do you pack packaging in? Well in more packaging of course.

https://twitter.com/awlilnatty/status/705375555030556672
https://twitter.com/pointlesspack
We had some fun pointing out these mostly environmentally faulty packaging alternatives but in the end, we know how hard innovation can be. As such, we give kudos to these manufacturers for doing their best at coming up with new ideas. May we suggest thinking more sustainably in the future?