Annoying plastic packaging here to stay

Submitted by Jason Meserve on Mon, 01/07/2008 - 6:37pm.

Everyone's had to battle that tough plastic packaging that encases our consumer electronics devices. It usually takes a very sharp object and numerous stitches to get the darn things open. While wandering through the South Hall here at CES, I came across Innovative Plastech's booth, a Batavia, Ill.-based maker of those annoying packages. So I had to ask: "Are they going to get friendlier?"

Not so much, says Innovative Plastech account rep Guy Hernandez. The reason the packaging is so hard to open is theft deterrent. The big box retailers like Walmart and Best Buy demand their suppliers package pricey electronic goods in tough to open containers so no one can easily steal what's inside.

That's good for the loss prevention departments and bad for consumers' fingers and hands.

The good news, Hernandez says, is that packaging is becoming a little more eco-friendly buy including more paper and less plastic. Of course, you'll still need one of those fancy Black & Decker electric slicers to get into the plastic parts.