As the only «related link» on
its mooncake packaging story, state - run Xinhua does offer one example of more sustainable packaging that might interest consumers: «Employees wear only aprons for less packaging use,» reads the website's too typical headline over a slide show of scantily clad women at a green PR stunt.
Banning luxury
mooncake packaging is a good step forward for China.
Not exact matches
But the
mooncake arguably has a heavier ecological footprint: thanks to its often wasteful
packaging and accessorizing, it is one of China's most popular tools of conspicuous consumption (consider Haagen - Daaz's opulent $ 80 offering, or
mooncakes coupled with bottles of wine, digital cameras, or even homes).
Everyone can go home now with their affordable and at most three - layered
package of
mooncakes.
As Xinhua reports, luxury - minded customers can still find excessively
packaged mooncake boxes — they just go by a different name:»... some moon cake producers and marketing businesses have come up with a clever deception: «red wine gift boxes,» «tea boxes» and other ways to conceal luxury moon cakes in legitimate
packaging.»
As usual, with a little linguistic manipulation, enterprising manufacturers are one step ahead, supplying opulently -
packaged mooncakes to a middle and upper class eager for fancy boxes.