Almost third of all municipal solid waste in US is generated from packaging-related materials, and about 3% of all US energy consumption comes from the production of packaging materials. Packaging makes up more than half of all the plastic waste and 75% of it comes from residential households. Over 60% of the total plastic waste in Western Europe is packaging, which is typically disposed of within one year of sale. Considering that oftentimes packaging gets used just once, and then tossed, it makes sense to cut down this waste. The easiest way to do that is to pay attention to what you buy.

Anything between 10% and 50% of the price of food today can be down to its packaging. So buying products that are not packaged at all or are packaged lighter doesn't only save the planet, but also saves you money. When going to the store, look for things that are in lighter (and hopefully recyclable) packaging. Another way to buy less garbage is to buy things/foods you use a lot in their concentrated form and in bigger containers.

Food is usually wrapped to make it last longer and ship better. By buying fresh local produce, you get less packaging and the freshest food. Good example would be bread packed in a paper bag vs. bread in a double plastic-wrap. When going to the grocery store or farmers market, don't forget your own bags and containers, because reusing packaging is the best way to cut down on it.

If you do end up with things that are overly packaged, make sure you recycle the packages to ensure they don't end up on the landfills.