August 11, 2008

Music Today ^[1]
Feedback Department
5391 Three Notched Road
Crozet, VA 22932

Dear Music Today:

I am returning to you this plastic padded mailer in which I received my ticket for the Outside Lands concert ^[2]. I am trying very hard to reduce my plastic consumption and overall waste, and while I appreciate your wanting to get my ticket to me safely, I do believe that this package is a bit too much protection. My paper ticket is certainly not going to break during shipment.

I feel very strongly that care for our environment depends upon both sellers to reduce the amount of packaging and shipping materials they use and consumers to choose products with the least packaging. While shopping, I bring my own reusable bags to avoid taking disposables. I also carry tap water in a reusable bottle to avoid plastic bottle waste and bring my own containers for take-out food.

Plastic, as I’m sure you know, is made from fossil fuels and is not biodegradable. The manufacture of new plastic is fraught with environmental hazards, as is plastic recycling. Therefore, I urge you to rethink the type of mailers in which you send your tickets. A simple recycled paper envelope would suffice.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth G. Terry