This is an image of some new tea bags by privately run TeaForte. It seems tea is becoming an increasingly popular drink in the US, especially among twenty-somethings. The coffee drinking nations are turning to tea, and we Indians – from the land of the best teas in the world – are becoming coffee guzzlers. (in urban centres at least)
Image courtesy: BusinessWeek
But what strikes me about these tea bags is that they seem a waste of packaging material, and in a time when designers ought to be a little more considerate about the indiscriminate use of resources. These things are going to be thrown away. The reason given for this packaging solution sums up the attitude of a culture that is based on consumerism to an insane degree.
Apparently ‘Not having to look at the nasty tea bag after brewing is something people really like.’ So, to please those few weak/bored/desperate creatures who cannot bear the sight of a wet and soggy tea bag, we must spend on nylon and silk, as well as each bag wrapped in an envelope and those wrapped again in a box. No doubt the design is aesthetically beautiful and unique, and it does appear to be an attractive product. But a little more concern and eco-responsibility wouldn’t have been out of place.
Categories: society
Tagged: coffee, consumption, drink, forte, packaging, tea, usa
In India we have millions of people. And i realise how many people we have only after coming to the US. Here, I hardly see any people on the roads, I mean even crowds are no where like in India. and so there arent that many people available for cheap labour like there are in India. Today, we went to a big stationery shop called staples. It has an in-house facility for paper cutting, printing, xerox etc. To cut 100 A4 sheets into half, it cost $6, while the price of that packet of paper was $4. hehe…
a lot of paper is used here, in packaging, and even in the kitchen. India is unfortunately going in the same direction. We need to reduce the amount of paper we use, and fast. People use tissues without thinking. Guys, its all TREES!
India needs to find its own path of progress, and not blindly follow the west, in their path of over-consumption. Sadly, Indians are fascinated by the ‘mall culture’ thats taking over the country, and are more than happy to see all that choice on the shelves. Although its not reached the levels that it has in the west, it soon will. And in India it seems terribly wrong, when half the country is on the streets and doesnt have enough to eat.
Categories: society
Tagged: consumption
