"Eco-Packaging" Finalist: Netflix
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio 
on 04. 3.06
When you think of multimedia packaging, you usually think of thick plastic cases with glossy paper inserts wrapped in more layers of sheet plastic - in other words, resource-intensive material...and lots of it. Thankfully, finalist Lara Gordon's entry goes against the multimedia-packaging grain - Netflix. Instead of the DVD cases you find at the movie store, Netflix uses a paper envelope, and you use that same paper envelope to send the movie back. As Lara's entry indicated, "Renting movies this way allows the rental company not to use the large plastic dvd packaging." There is no indication if they use recycled paper for the envelopes (which would be even better), but either way it sure beats the production of those oversized plastic cases.
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I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. I'm pretty sure NetFlix gets its movies with the bulky plastic cases just like any other store. They must store them somewhere, because you can buy previously viewed movies from them and I think they come in the original packaging.
Still, Netflix (or similar services) are probably environmentally better than going to the video store simply because they save on gas and parking lot space and the like. Unless, of course, you live in an urban area where you can walk to your closest video palace.
However, I can't wait until I can easily download any movie I want and watch it on my TV (rather than my computer) for a reasonable price. That seems like it would be the most environmentally responsible way of enjoying movies.
My friends band have cardboard sleeves for their CD's. They work better than plastic CD cases.
My friends band have cardboard sleeves for their CD's. They work better than plastic CD cases.
These dont seem very re-usable. So everytime you get a movie and send it back they throw out the cardboard? pleeeaase.
DG said:
> Still, Netflix (or similar
> services) are probably
> environmentally better than
> going to the video store
> simply because they save on
> gas and parking lot space and
> the like.
Cheaper, perhaps, but not environmentally better. Unless they are using solar powered teleporters, there is still fossil fuel used to deliver the DVD's.
Local is better, with few exceptions.
NetFlix is a nice idea, since I don't have to drive out to the store and back. I tend to shove 2-3 movies into one sleeve and ship the one envelope back. Then I'm left with the left over envelopes, which pile up all over my house. Since I don't know whether NetFlix recylces the returned envelopes, I gather my stockpile of envelopes ever few months and toss them into the recycling bin, minus the sticky part. It WOULD be nice to see those envelopes one day say "Made from recycled paper".
NetFlix is a nice idea, since I don't have to drive out to the store and back. I tend to shove 2-3 movies into one sleeve and ship the one envelope back. Then I'm left with the left over envelopes, which pile up all over my house. Since I don't know whether NetFlix recylces the returned envelopes, I gather my stockpile of envelopes ever few months and toss them into the recycling bin, minus the sticky part. It WOULD be nice to see those envelopes one day say "Made from recycled paper".
I'd love to see them made from recycled paper, that would be great! They do re-use the paper sleaves (they aren't cardboard). I put the flap that comes off in my recycling too. Thanks!
Shoving them in to one envelope also ensures that they get there the same day. Or, they all get lost at the same time. Whoops. :P
the netflix sleeves are mylar. should last forever.
They do keep the original plastic boxes. Surely the psotman delivering them to each household is better than hundreds (thousands) of people making seperate trips to the store and back...
Due to the number of movies NetFlix issues, it most likely gets it's movies on large spindles or in individual sleeves. It is cheaper for the movie producers to ship them to NetFlix that way.
And if you live in the Chicagoland area (or a few other areas) NetFlix is local to you.
"Now shipping from 37 centers," meaning my movies are going coast to coast anymore which equals greener, but also faster.
This is the only entry that is TRULY green. T shirts and radishes don't need plastic packaging of any kind--you can buy the shirts off a hanger and you can put the radishes in a canvas reusable bag. No car should be allowed in this contest at all and individual yogurt containers waste resources--buy bigger ones and serve with a spoon!
Arguably DVDS are not Green but the packaging by Netflix is reused immediately. That's good design and sane use of a renewable resource.
I guess it partially depends on how far one lives from the video store.
I just wanted to make it clear that the added load of thousands (more?) of extra DVD's being shipped around the country (even if regionally) is a non-zero environmental load to the postal service.
The real green solution is to find a service that allows these to be downloaded over broadband. After all, what's the point of moving all this media around, anyway?
Best packaging is no packaging.
"I just wanted to make it clear that the added load of thousands (more?) of extra DVD's being shipped around the country (even if regionally) is a non-zero environmental load to the postal service."
Of course, but there's no way in the world the marginal energy required to ship a 1 ounce package via the mail is anywhere in the ballpark of the energy used to drive to go get a video. I'm willing to bet that just starting a car uses more energy than shipping a 1 ounce letter within a region (since they have many distribution centers).
"The real green solution is to find a service that allows these to be downloaded over broadband. After all, what's the point of moving all this media around, anyway?
Best packaging is no packaging."
Last I checked, making computers, monitors, laying broadband cable/fiber/etc requires all kinds of resources, and a computer (and the Internet) uses all sorts of electricity. It'd be interesting to see how much energy a video-on-demand server farm ends up using.
At this point in time, Netflix is a huge advance in sustainability compared to driving to a video store and/or buying one's own discs.
"Last I checked, making computers, monitors, laying broadband cable/fiber/etc requires all kinds of resources, and a computer (and the Internet) uses all sorts of electricity."
That's true, though if people already have all those things, putting them to use is not really adding much, especially compared to the traditional DVD-renting method.
Someone buying a computer just to watch movies is in different situation than someone who already had a computer a broadband.
"It'd be interesting to see how much energy a video-on-demand server farm ends up using."
It would have to be compared to a DVD factory + shipping to retail outlets + people driving to retail outlets, etc.
"It would have to be compared to a DVD factory + shipping to retail outlets + people driving to retail outlets, etc."
I think the comparison was between Netflix and video-on-demand, which is still pretty much vaporware for most people.
My basic point is that Netflix is highly efficient compared to the previous paradigm, and if you start comparing Netflix with video-on-demand, then the comparisons need to take into account the broader picture as well. Saying that people already have computers etc is analogous to the fact that the postal service will be making deliveries regardless of whether they have little DVD letters in tow.
I was mostly challenging the "local is always better" assertion with respect to the belief that it is more resource-efficient to drive a multi-ton vehicle to a nearby video store than it is to have the USPS deliver a 1 oz letter.
None of the delivery modes is a free lunch.
You are absolutely right. It depends what you are comparing it to; video-on-demand as replacement for renting movies or for buying movies?
Netflix certainly seems more efficient than brick & mortar video stores, but downloading movies vs. netflix or buying movies might be another story (especially if the TV & home theater are merged with the computer system by then).
The Netflix envelopes aren't even paper. They are Tyvek, a substance designed to be non biodegradable. How is that eco friendly again? Nextflix fanboys/fangirls need to give it a rest.
Once you consider all the broken DVDs as a result of shipping, Netflix is no longer ecologically friendly. On average, Netflix says their DVDs break in shipping after 20 rentals. I'm sure all those DVDs end up in land fills.
The NetFlix sleeves are made from Tyvek. Tyvek is a non-recycleable polymer manufactured by DuPont used widely in the US. DuPont is in no way "eco". Not quite sure how this mateial can be considered "eco" either.
There's a little confusion here - the sleeves, which are resued infinitely are Tyvek - lightweight and strong. The envelopes are paper.