That’s a tough choice. Luckily, I’ve never had to make it. All of the organic eggs I’ve seen are packaged in cardboard packaging, so they can be properly recycled (or, at least, they will biodegrade if there are no recycling programs in your area).

I am lucky since my container that I buy the Cage-Free Organic Eggs is able to be recycled. I think you made the right choice…..but the chicken thing does bother me a lot.

Tough choice. Blog looks great, by the way!!

http://www.ecolabelfundraising.com

eventually, all those land fills are going to be dug up because the materials that are in them will be needed again and it will be cheaper to dig up a landfill then it will be to get it new out of deep dark pit. in the mean time, I suggest we adopt the 1,2, or 3 container law. if the majority of our packaging can’t be made in 3 recyclable products or less it can’t be sold in the usa.

i would have actually skipped the eggs at that store and found another.
(although i don’t know how horrible the pollution associated with making those
recycled paper egg containers is!)

Buy the eggs you would normally buy (organic) and find a way to use the styrofoam packaging in a creative way- such as a container for odds and ends or as a paint mixer for arts and crafts… etc. As much as it may make you uncomfortable to buy it, that styrofoam package already exists and your avoidance of it won’t change that. Rather, the change must be made upstream of you… but you can be an active participant in it!

First, you should contact the egg company. Let them know that you bought their eggs- this time- but that you were confused as to why they were using styrofoam packaging. Tell them that you will be buying from someone else unless they change their packaging. Maybe they will (victory) and maybe they won’t, but they should know that people are paying attention and that these details DO matter. If you’re willing to pay a few cents more for a better package, you should certainly say so because that may be a concern they have.

Next, you might also ask the grocery store to carry eggs that are both organic AND come in a more sustainable package (I’d wait to do this until hearing from the company about their internal verdict on the packaging issue). Explain how much it matters to you and others, and that you’ll be buying your products elsewhere if you can’t find what you want here.

Also, if you’re as concerned about getting the eggs right (food + package), you might also be concerned about the welfare of the chickens laying these eggs. Are their beaks being clipped? Are they outside or confined to small cages? The definition of “free range” might surprise you (it’s unregulated!). These factors greatly affect the eggs you’re eating because they determine the overall health and wellbeing of the animal that created that egg. I’m no animal rights activist-these issues should be a concern to all of us!!

I just could not ever bring myself to buy styrofoam! I would shop at a different store and buy a different brand. But we are lucky as we get to buy farm fresh in reused (cardboard) egg cartons from friends who have chickens! Support your LOCAL farms! (and if I lived in the city and had no choice I would write to the company putting the organic eggs in that nasty styrofoam!)

I would sure like to know the name of the organic egg packer that is putting organic eggs in PS foam. Claire is right on…egg cartons are usually made of recycled newsprint.

We have a better solution. Compostable fiber packaging is here to stay. Not only is this a great solution but fiber packaging takes up to 5x less space. Remember;
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Live the Color

Kristin,
I’d like to add another note. What’s this idea of making chickens vegetarians? That’s silly. Chickens, like most birds, eat insects, fruits, as well as grains. I prefer free-range chickens… which means they get to eat what they find – grains or insects. The insects are a much better source of protein and fats for the eggs they make than grain is. I try to avoid the grain-fed products.
Also, although I agree with Wilbur that we are a privileged nation, with that comes responsibility and we, as a nation, have been incredibly irresponsible with our wealth and resources. So as silly as it sounds, this is EXACTLY the kind of debate we should be having. As Kristen said, each little bit helps. Every little decision adds up.
Oh and Kristen, I would have forgone the styrofoam – I disagree that because the packaging was already made that you should go ahead and buy the eggs. Instead, I would opt for the reusable container, and tell THAT to the company that put their eggs in styrofom. That, in fact, although you preferred the organic eggs, you simply could not conscience buying styrofoam….
Of course, it IS possible that the styrofoam wasn’t polystyrene but was corn-based … which DOES decompose — rather quickly.

Packaging is one reason why I don’t buy all organic foods. Sometimes the organic food is in packaging that I can’t reuse or recycle. I’ll buy the nonorganic or nonlocal equivalent if it has less wasteful packaging or packaging that I can reuse or recycle in some way. For me driving from store to store in order to buy the one or two items on my list that are organic/local/etc. is just as or more wasteful in gas. BTW I drive a well maintained fuel efficeint compact car.

Why did I open this page? As a vegan, I really don’t understand the need to treat chickens as economic commodities by eating their eggs.