Dear Earth,
Earth Day has passed, and while it’s always great to see people planting trees, doing clean-ups, and spreading awareness, I can’t help but notice how quickly we go back to our old habits. One thing that really stood out to me recently — especially after cramming for AP Chemistry (shoutout to all the fellow test-takers) — is how much unnecessary packaging we still use, especially in developed countries. Like, why does everything have to come wrapped in three layers of plastic just to make it look “nicer”?
Let’s talk about marketing. Companies LOVE to sell you a product, but they also love to sell you an image. That’s why your shampoo comes in a fancy box inside another box, maybe with a little ribbon or shiny wrapper. All of that is just for appearance — it doesn’t actually make the product better. It’s just more trash we end up tossing.
This is super common in wealthier countries, where people are used to having things look “premium” or “gift-worthy.” It’s a way to make products feel more valuable. But here’s the thing: most of that extra packaging gets thrown away in minutes. And guess what? Most of it isn’t recyclable, even if it looks like it should be.
From a chem perspective (yes, AP Chem did teach us something!), plastic isn’t just one thing — it’s made of different polymers, often treated with dyes, coatings, and additives. That makes recycling way harder than it sounds. So when you think you’re doing something good by tossing it in the blue bin, it might still end up in a landfill. Or worse, the ocean.
So what can we do about it? For starters, we can stop falling for the “more packaging = better product” trick. If there’s a version of a product with less waste, pick that one. Support brands that actually care about sustainability — not just the ones slapping a green leaf on the label and calling it “eco-friendly.”
Post-Earth Day is the perfect time to reflect and realize that protecting the planet isn’t just a one-day event. It’s about the choices we make every single day, even something as small as the toothpaste we buy or the snacks we bring to school.
The bottom line: we don’t need more plastic to feel like we’re getting our money’s worth. Let’s start demanding less packaging and more real change.
Best Wishes,
Jessica Ngok
Letters To Earth 