Bloody annoying: those packages that clearly weren’t thought through
Packages that don’t open properly can cause a whole lot of annoyance, even for cheerful people like yours truly. For some reason, this is especially the case with rice cakes. And wouldn’t you know it: they’re exactly the kind of thing you want the packaging to close properly. Is it just me, or has nobody really thought this through?
You know that feeling? You’re in the mood for a light snack and open a pack of rice cakes. You do your very best, but it’s never good enough. That little bag isn’t made for careful opening, no matter how hard you try: the packaging won’t close properly anymore. The result? That crisp, airy texture has turned into something resembling a cardboard coaster in no time. And the frustrating part: this is such a common problem with packaging!
Resealable packaging
Why is it so difficult to design packaging that is actually resealable? Sometimes it seems as though manufacturers forget that we don’t want to eat an entire pack of rice cakes in one go. Resealable packaging is crucial, especially for products like rice cakes that dry out quickly. But no: they come in a simple plastic package that, once you tear it open, offers virtually no chance of keeping the contents fresh.
Keep it crunchy
Of course: there are worse things in the world. And rice cake haters (my housemates) fervently hope that my annoyance will become so great that I’ll never buy those smelly things again. But before exercising (with extra crunchy peanut butter, mmm!) or as a quick snack: good stuff. As long as they’re crunchy. I don’t know anyone who likes chewy rice cakes. A well-designed package could solve this problem easily. Why can chip bags be resealed perfectly well, for example, while rice cakes continue to resist every form of logic?
Waste caused by stupid packaging
On top of that, packaging that doesn’t close properly leads to waste. Food that dries out or no longer tastes good eventually ends up in the trash. And that is what I truly hate. A smart closure, a different packaging material; how difficult can it be?
So, packaging designers (Albert Heijn, are you reading this too?), I’m begging you: give us packaging that closes. Whether it’s rice cakes, biscuits or other foods; we want bags that close. Is that really too much to ask?
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