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SMBC: Bottles make it better

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Sometimes humor is the most effective way to point absurdities in our culture and behavior as a species (think about how much more palatable The Daily Show makes the news!). Present example, this comic from Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal pokes fun at how we feel the need to bottle or package everything, in this case, it's bottled water.

Personally, I think we take packaging too far. Does everything we buy need to be individually wrapped in cellophane? I know there are legitimate health concerns that warrant packaging food; of course meat and other perishables should be packaged to prevent spoilage and contamination. But at a certain point it becomes absurd when we are packaging single-serving cups of coffee concentrate (the K-Cup). And not to mention the resources used to produce all of these single-serving bottles or wrappers (usually petroleum or paper), that will likely end up in a landfill (or a recycling yard if we're lucky).

Perhaps it's more convenient to buy single servings of things (like water, or coffee) and dispose of it when it's used up, rather than brew a whole pot of coffee, or heaven forbid, drink faucet water (gross!). I just have a feeling (no data, yet) that K Cups and its kin are the new baby diapers - piling up in landfills for no real good reason.


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Am I just making something out of nothing? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter: @davidwogan.

David Wogan is an engineer and policy researcher who writes about energy, technology, and policy.

David's academic and professional background includes a unique blend of technology and policy in the field of energy systems. Most recently, David worked at Austin Energy, a Texas municipal utility, implementing a Department of Energy stimulus grant related to energy efficiency. Previously, David was a member of the Energy & Climate Change team at the White House Council on Environmental Quality for the Obama Administration.

David holds two Master's degrees from The University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and Public Affairs. While at UT, David was a researcher in the Webber Energy Group, where his research focused on advanced biofuel production to offset petroleum use in the transportation sector. David holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he researched nuclear non-proliferation measurement technology.

David is a 2013 Aspen Institute Journalism Scholar, joining a select group of journalists from Slate, ABC News, and The New York Times.

David lives in Austin, Texas. Follow along on Twitter or email him at david.wogan@me.com.

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