30 Examples Of Packaging So Misleading, It’s Basically A Scam, As Shared On This Online Community

These packages look like they were intentionally designed to lure away our money. The post 30 Examples Of Packaging So Misleading, It's Basically A Scam, As Shared On This Online Community first appeared on Bored Panda.

Mar 22, 2023 - 00:30

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30 Examples Of Packaging So Misleading, It’s Basically A Scam, As Shared On This Online Community

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines slack-fill as the difference between the size of a container and the volume of product contained therein. And while the agency does try to hunt down the misleading ones that do not allow the consumer to fully view its contents, every potato chips lover would tell you that they still hit the shelves.

Luckily, there's the r/NonFunctionSlackFill subreddit that works hard to expose them — its 49.1K members regularly share pictures of packages looking like they were intentionally designed to lure away our money. Continue scrolling to check out the most infuriating examples.

#1 Buoyancy

Image credits: baselganglia

#2 Biggest Letdown I’ve Had In A While

Image credits: demonic_pug

According to Nina van Toulon, the initiator of the Indonesian Platform for Prevention and Management of Waste, some slack-fill is needed.

"One valid reason for functional slack-fill is product protection," she explained. "Good examples are packages filled with chips or cookies. The extra space prevents damage to the product by outside pressure, without this empty space, your product would crumble."

"Another valid reason is avoiding product loss due to spilling when opening the package," she added.

#3 This Bamboozling Package

Image credits: alfatems

#4 Not Buying This Kind Of Box From Michaels Again

Image credits: lookitslaurie

#5 Why Do You Have To Play Me Like That?

Image credits: Flozender

Another reason is called settling. "Some products fill up a package at production time and the product 'settles' to a lower level inside the packaging over time, for example, flour."

"[One more] technical reason is the closing process of the packaging after it is filled in a production line," van Toulon continued. "There needs to be an allowance of extra material to seal the packaging properly, which in some cases (and depending on the type of packaging) results in some empty space."

#6 Only Function Here Is To Trick You Into Thinking It's A Bottle

Image credits: ABAFBAASD

#7 Bath Bombs

Image credits: Bobrobot1

#8 I Know Popcorn Is Mostly Air, But

Image credits: LykaiosAvery

#9 Does This Count?

Image credits: Zacipult

However, as we can see, sometimes there's simply too much slack-fill. "Non-functional slack-fill is a neglected topic. Publications on regulating slack-fill [are] scarce and U.S. lawsuits are mostly related to misleading consumers and not to the unnecessary use of materials, of which the majority of certain packaging materials is not effectively being recycled," van Toulon said.

#10 A Yard Of Snickers. Sorry, But I Tore Out The Cardboard Flaps That Kept Them Centered

Image credits: casewood123

#11 Coloring Book For My Son

Image credits: PhotosByDrew

#12 The Solar Panel Of My Flashlight Came Off And Reveals A Block Of Concrete To Make It Feel More Well-Built And Heavy

Image credits: hitmannumber862

#13 This "Box" Of Beef Jerky

Image credits: philipsdirk

One reason why we see so much of it, according to the expert, boils down to the producers trying to create a feeling of "more value for your money."

"Consumers need to rely on the amount of grams or pieces printed on the packaging when the product is ... in non-transparent packaging," van Toulon highlighted. "When the number of pieces is mentioned, it is clear what you get for your money."

Another reason why companies do this is trying to stand taller than their competitors' products on the store shelves.

#14 Sales Genius

Image credits: GillyGilly21

#15 This Jumbo Tube Is Only Filled To The Letter E

Image credits: ebjazzz

#16 I Get That Samples Are Samples, But What A Waste Of Plastic

Image credits: IamthebestPotatp

#17 An Airport Sandwich At Its Finest!

Image credits: MrCharlieBones

The packages we see in the pictures should be downsized not only because it misleads the buyers. "The unnecessary and excessive use of packaging aggravates the climate, waste and plastic pollution crises, at all stages from resource extraction, production, distribution, transport in collection systems, landfilling, incineration, and recycling," van Toulon said.

#18 2/5 Away

Image credits: sean_Biota

#19 Why Is This Not Illegal

Image credits: thedudefromsweden

#20 You Can Probably Imagine My Daughter's Disappointment When We Opened Up This Crayola "Super Art Tub"

Image credits: arka80

#21 "Fruit Bread"

Image credits: A_fucking__user

"Mismanaged waste which has no or low recycling properties creates additional burdens such as open burning of flexible packaging, a practice which is widespread in most parts of Asia and Africa. This causes CO2, black carbon, and toxic emissions. Aggravating those burdens by using unnecessary packaging is unethical."

The activists calls consumers to be proactive and voice their disappointment to either the authorities, manufacturers, or distributors whenever they feel like they get too much slack fill. She also encourages letting each other know about these products so that we would simply choose not to buy them and hurt the demand. Something tells me van Toulon might be one of r/NonFunctionSlackFill's members!