Asklemmy

43835 readers

759 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy 🔍

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

Open-ended question
Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

Lemmyverse: community search
sub.rehab: maps old subreddits to fediverse options, marks official as such
!lemmy411@lemmy.ca: a community for finding communities

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

Why are Asian products so often wrapped in really thick plastics? (feddit.de)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by federalreverse@feddit.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I live in Europe but sometimes shop at Asian supermarkets here. One of the things I notice with almost everything I buy there is that plastic packaging feels a lot thicker than that on European products. Is there a rational reason for this? Are plastics simply cheaper? Or do people worry more that products might spoil? Are these different types of plastics?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 61 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Speculating: I think its a form of marketing. In the US and in Europe, people don't care too much about the thickness of the plastics but in Japan and some other asian countries, thick plastic wrapping is a sign of good quality.

[–] tiramichu@lemm.ee 54 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

This is it.

I've previously lived in Japan and there is always so much wrapping!

A large amount of packaging creates a perception of quality, as if a lot of care has been taken in the product, and culturally that sells well.

Kinda ironic as another thing you see everywhere in Japan is 'eco' this and 'green' that, they are very big on the perception of "saving the environment" and yet everything is covered in so much unnecessary plastic.

[–] AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's also a form of security. If its a small item a large plastic package makes it more difficult to shoplift, tamper, or use before purchasing. It also adds an additional level of protection during shipping.

[–] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

I don't really think Japan has a worse issue than basically most other European and american companies. I'd be surprised if Japan has a higher shoplifting rate than the countries in the Americas to where individualized plastic wrapping is actually a deterrent. Maybe security theater i guess.

[–] federalreverse@feddit.de 5 points 7 months ago

Ok, I guess that's the answer then. :/