Question
Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the
amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of
packaging.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Answer
The problem of pollution is a major one in the modern era, and in the developed world people have
been trying to find solutions for several decades. Currently, one of the biggest debates revolves
around whether it should be companies or individual people that bear the majority of the
responsibility for this improvement. This essay will look at both arguments and conclude that the
responsibility should be shared.
To begin with, some people argue that major corporations are responsible for fixing our
environmental problems because they have profited from reprehensible crimes against the
environment for decades. If these companies suddenly changed to sustainable, eco-friendly
products and packaging, consumers could still continue their normal shopping without having so
much of a negative effect on the world. This would take away the individual’s choice and thereby
ensure that everyone contributes to repairing our planet. However, companies function on profits
and generally single-use plastics are cheap, so many of them are reluctant to make the switch.
On the other hand, people can also make a difference. Companies only sell what there is a demand
for, and if people start demanding greener products and more responsible corporate actions, then
companies will have to comply. If their customers started complaining about or boycotting overly-
packaged goods, companies would quickly change to keep the consumer happy. However, sadly not
all people care about the environment, and in many parts of the world cost comes first. If we rely
entirely upon people to make this choice, there will be no progress. In many parts of the world,
people still think it is fine to throw plastic into rivers so they should not be depended upon to make
reasonable choices.
In conclusion, both companies and individuals should take an active role in fixing the damage they
have done to the world, but neither can be entirely trusted. Everyone should make some positive
effort and it would also be helpful for governments to pass laws with serious punishments for
offenders who violate environmental regulations.
