Does Size Matter?

Over recent years product packaging has been getting smaller, sometimes because the products inside have become more concentrated and at others to reduce waste packaging as a ‘green’ measure. However, some products are now available in smaller sizes purely to cut costs and maximise profits – they are sold for the same price (or more) as their originally larger counterparts.

So which products are being sold in smaller sizes with good reason, and which are helping the companies concerned to maintain their profit margins?

Recent additions to the toiletry aisles are compressed deodorants. These 75ml aerosol cans are available from Dove, Vaseline and Sure and claim to last as long as the larger 150ml varieties. They are priced the same as the larger cans, so as long as they do last the same length of time, they will make no difference to your purse, but will help the environment by generating less waste from packaging. I’ve just bought a compressed version of Vaseline Aloe Vera, so time will tell what my verdict is on that one.

I tend to use Ariel Excel Gel, but this has been doing an incredible shrinking act over the years. Available is two sizes, the larger one currently claims to last for 24 washes. This was previously 28 and prior to that 32, whilst the price has not gone down accordingly. Give Ariel their due, however, at least the number of washes is displayed on the front of the bottle, so we can keep track of what is happening. I recommend that with this type of product you do check the number of washes as opposed to amount in mls, as this indicates whether it is the concentration of the product that is different as opposed to just the volume.

Many manufacturers state that they would rather reduce product sizes as opposed to increasing prices, but this still means we are effectively paying more per 100g, 100ml or whatever of a product. The initial outlay may remain unchanged for these items, but they will not last us as long.

All that we can really do as shoppers is to keep an eye on product sizes as well as prices and buy the items that work best for us.

However, I would like to see more companies reducing their packaging without compromising their products. Reduced packaging in some cases will also reduce production costs, savings that can then be passed on to the consumer (well, we can dream). After all, how many packets do you open, that contain more ‘space’ than product?

What are your thoughts? comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk