GoGo squeeZ hit the U.S. market in April of 2008. A few months later, in November of 2008, one million pouches of GoGo squeeZ had been sold. As of 2016, 444 million pouches are being sold each year and sales are projected to reach 3.7 billion per year in the U.S. alone. The pouch is the latest food innovation to hit the market and people love the convenience it has to offer. So what's the cost of this convenient snack?
The environmental cost is pretty straight forward here. GoGo squeeZ partnered with Terracycle back in March of 2011. Sending your used pouches to TerraCycle is the only way that they can be recycled. As I write this post, Terracycle has recycled exactly 4,827,933 pouches. I suppose one could argue that that number is better than nothing, however, considering the larger picture, it's an abysmally small percentage. It's even worse knowing that GoGo squeeZ proudly displays on their website that they recycle with Terracycle. It is clearly a marketing propaganda tool and not a heartfelt concern for our dear planet.
The health cost is also something to consider. These pouches are made from polyethylene, specifically low-density polyethylene, or LDPE. LDPE is plastic resin number 4 and is considered generally safe. So safe, in fact, that GoGo squeeZ calls their pouch "an inert and safe material that is used for many of the caps on today's plastic drink bottles." I'm not sure about you, but that sounds like "they did it too, so it's okay" to me. Polyethylene is a thermoplastic made from petroleum. It does not contain BPA but can still leach estrogenic chemicals. Remember that leaching is more prevalent when the food is in contact with the plastic for long periods of time. Safe, not safe, who really knows.
The monetary cost varies depending on whether you buy a single pouch, a four pack, a twelve pack, and whether you are buying brand name or generic. Let's assume you are shopping at Target. A single pouch will cost 99 cents, a four-pack is $2.49, and a twelve pack is $7.49. Below is a cost comparison. When you take the time to figure out the price per ounce, it should make you question how much you are willing to pay for the perception of convenience.
Cost per ounce of apple sauce:
GoGo squeeZ single 31 cents
GoGo squeeZ 4 pack 20 cents
GoGo squeeZ 12 pack 20 cents
Motts 6 pack cups 9 cents
Motts jar 6 cents
Market Pantry jar 5 cents
My two cents: When we buy products like GoGo squeeZ we are perpetuating the single-use problem that is already out of control. We rationalize this choice by arguing "convenience." Is it convenience or are we just lazy?
Rating: I'm giving GoGo squeeZ 4 out of 5 possible slow claps. The pouches are impossible to recycle unless you mail them to Terracycle and we already know how many have made it there since 2011. Recycling isn't the answer here. GoGo squeeZ made $200 million dollars off of our lazy asses in 2015 alone. I don't think anyone should make that sort of money off of applesauce but we chose to buy it up and throw it all away.
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