This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of packaging from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Packaging
Some people say that supermarkets and manufacturers have a responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging on products they sell. Others believe that it is the consumer’s responsibility to avoid buying products which have a lot of packaging.
Discuss both views and give your opinions.
It is often argued that curtailing the over-packaging of products is the onus of supermarkets and manufacturers rather than consumers. From my point of view, I am largely in agreement with the latter viewpoint.
On the one hand, supermarkets and manufacturers are responsible for using less packaging because they are the ones who have instituted unnecessary packaging on a large scale. There is no discernible reason, in light of its dire environmental impact, that toothpaste manufacturers have historically chosen to pack tubes in extra boxes or supermarkets have opted to wrap bananas and apples in Styrofoam trays, covered with plastic. These redundant practices contribute greatly to both the initial production of plastic and its subsequent disposal in landfills. Since supermarkets and manufacturers are the ones with the power to reform their own policies, it is only logical that they should be responsible.
On the other hand, only consumers can force the hands of large corporations by boycotting their products. This is best evidenced in cities where it used to be common to package fruits and vegetables in plastic, such as Chiang Mai in Thailand. Consumer awareness movements among locals have had a discernible impact on companies. It is now much more common to find bananas bare or simply wrapped in natural leaves and vegetables tied together with a single piece of string to lessen their environmental footprint. This same practice employed in cities around the world will have the largest possible impact on the environment.
In conclusion, the only pragmatic way to persuade shareholder-controlled corporations to reform packaging policies is by putting consumer pressure on their bottom lines. If customers make more of an effort to steer clear of heavily packaged products in favour of more environmentally conscious ones, this will lead to a shift in thinking when it comes to the environmental toll of plastics.
Analysis
1. It is often argued that curtailing the over-packaging of products is the onus of supermarkets and manufacturers rather than consumers. 2. From my point of view, I am largely in agreement with the latter viewpoint.
- First I paraphrased the overall essay topic.
- Then I wrote my opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, supermarkets and manufacturers are responsible for using less packaging because they are the ones who have instituted unnecessary packaging on a large scale. 2. There is no discernible reason, in light of its dire environmental impact, that toothpaste manufacturers have historically chosen to pack tubes in extra boxes or supermarkets have opted to wrap bananas and apples in Styrofoam trays, covered with plastic. 3. These redundant practices contribute greatly to both the initial production of plastic and its subsequent disposal in landfills. 4. Since supermarkets and manufacturers are the ones with the power to reform their own policies, it is only logical that they should be responsible.
- I then wrote a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Next, I explain my main idea and add specific support.
- Then I state the results of my examples.
- Finally, I relate my ideas back to the overall essay question.
1. On the other hand, only consumers can force the hands of large corporations by boycotting their products. 2. This is best evidenced in cities where it used to be common to package fruits and vegetables in plastic, such as Chiang Mai in Thailand. 3. Consumer awareness movements among locals have had a discernible impact on companies. 4. It is now much more common to find bananas bare or simply wrapped in natural leaves and vegetables tied together with a single piece of string to lessen their environmental footprint. 5. This same practice employed in cities around the world will have the largest possible impact on the environment.
- I then wrote another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Then I explained my main idea and started a specific example.
- I developed the example.
- Next, I stated the results of my example.
- Finally, I generalised to other cases.
1. In conclusion, the only pragmatic way to persuade shareholder-controlled corporations to reform packaging policies is by putting consumer pressure on their bottom lines. 2. If customers make more of an effort to steer clear of heavily packaged products in favour of more environmentally conscious ones, this will lead to a shift in thinking when it comes to the environmental toll of plastics.
- I summarise my main ideas and repeat my opinion.
- Then I add a final thought/detail. This introduction is a little bit long – yours can be shorter. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
It is often argued that curtailing the over-packaging of products is the onus of supermarkets and manufacturers rather than consumers. From my point of view, I am largely in agreement with the latter viewpoint.
On the one hand, supermarkets and manufacturers are responsible for using less packaging because they are the ones who have instituted unnecessary packaging on a large scale. There is no discernible reason, in light of its dire environmental impact, that toothpaste manufacturers have historically chosen to pack tubes in extra boxes or supermarkets have opted to wrap bananas and apples in Styrofoam trays, covered with plastic. These redundant practices contribute greatly to both the initial production of plastic and its subsequent disposal in landfills. Since supermarkets and manufacturers are the ones with the power to reform their own policies, it is only logical that they should be responsible.
On the other hand, only consumers can force the hands of large corporations by boycotting their products. This is best evidenced in cities where it used to be common to package fruits and vegetables in plastic, such as Chiang Mai in Thailand. Consumer awareness movements among locals have had a discernible impact on companies. It is now much more common to find bananas bare or simply wrapped in natural leaves and vegetables tied together with a single piece of string to lessen their environmental footprint. This same practice employed in cities around the world will have the largest possible impact on the environment.
In conclusion, the only pragmatic way to persuade shareholder–controlled corporations to reform packaging policies is by putting consumer pressure on their bottom lines. If customers make more of an effort to steer clear of heavily packaged products in favour of more environmentally conscious ones, this will lead to a shift in thinking when it comes to the environmental toll of plastics.
Answers
often argued frequently debated
curtailing lessening
over-packaging wrapping up too much
onus responsibility
manufacturers companies producing products
rather than instead of
from my point of view in my opinion
largely in agreement mostly agree
latter viewpoint opinion I mentioned second
instituted unnecessary packaging on a large scale put in place lots of wrapping up of products
discernible reason clear cause
in light of because of
dire environmental impact series effect on the environment
toothpaste manufacturers companies that make toothpaste
historically chosen in that past opted to
pack tubes package toothpaste tubes
opted chose
Styrofoam a packaging material
covered with wrapped in
redundant practices repetitive uses
initial first
subsequent disposal later throwing away
landfills putting trash in the ground
power to reform ability to change
policies guidelines
force the hands make them
boycotting not buying the products
best evidenced clearly supported
common happens a lot
consumer awareness movements people caring more about an issue
locals people from that area
discernible impact clear effect
bare not packaged
tied together wrapped together
lessen their environmental footprint make more environmentally friendly
employed used
largest possible impact biggest effect achievable
pragmatic way realistic route
persuade shareholder–controlled convince big companies
reform packaging policies change the way they package
consumer pressure customers buying/not buying
bottom lines profits
customers consumers
steer clear avoid
environmentally conscious ones those who care about the environment
lead to a shift in thinking will change how people view
environmental toll of plastics effect of packaging on the environment
Pronunciation
ˈɒf(ə)n ˈɑːgjuːd
kɜːˈteɪlɪŋ
ˈəʊvə-ˈpækɪʤɪŋ
ˈəʊnəs
ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərəz
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
frɒm maɪ pɔɪnt ɒv vjuː
ˈlɑːʤli ɪn əˈgriːmənt
ˈlætə ˈvjuːpɔɪnt
ˈɪnstɪtjuːtɪd ʌnˈnɛsɪsəri ˈpækɪʤɪŋ ɒn ə lɑːʤ skeɪl
dɪˈsɜːnəbl ˈriːzn
ɪn laɪt ɒv
ˈdaɪər ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈɪmpækt
ˈtuːθpeɪst ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərəz
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəli ˈʧəʊzn
pæk tjuːbz
ˈɒptɪd
ˈstaɪrəfəʊm
ˈkʌvəd wɪð
rɪˈdʌndənt ˈpræktɪsɪz
ɪˈnɪʃəl
ˈsʌbsɪkwənt dɪsˈpəʊzəl
ˈlændfɪlz
ˈpaʊə tuː ˌriːˈfɔːm
ˈpɒlɪsiz
fɔːs ðə hændz
ˈbɔɪkɒtɪŋ
bɛst ˈɛvɪdənst
ˈkɒmən
kənˈsjuːmər əˈweənəs ˈmuːvmənts
ˈləʊkəlz
dɪˈsɜːnəbl ˈɪmpækt
beə
taɪd təˈgɛðə
ˈlɛsn ðeər ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈfʊtprɪnt
ɪmˈplɔɪd
ˈlɑːʤɪst ˈpɒsəbl ˈɪmpækt
prægˈmætɪk weɪ
pəˈsweɪd ˈʃeəˌhəʊldə-kənˈtrəʊld
ˌriːˈfɔːm ˈpækɪʤɪŋ ˈpɒlɪsiz
kənˈsjuːmə ˈprɛʃə
ˈbɒtəm laɪnz
ˈkʌstəməz
stɪə klɪə
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈkɒnʃəs wʌnz
liːd tuː ə ʃɪft ɪn ˈθɪŋkɪŋ
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl təʊl ɒv ˈplæstɪks
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
It is o________________d that c_____________g the o_________________g of products is the o______s of supermarkets and m________________s r_____________________n consumers. F_____________________w, I am l________________________t with the l____________________t.
On the one hand, supermarkets and manufacturers are responsible for using less packaging because they are the ones who have i____________________________________________e. There is no d____________________n, i_______________f its d__________________________t, that t______________________________s have h____________________n to p______________s in extra boxes or supermarkets have o_______d to wrap bananas and apples in S______________m trays, c_______________h plastic. These r_____________________s contribute greatly to both the i__________l production of plastic and its s_____________________l in l___________s. Since supermarkets and manufacturers are the ones with the p________________m their own p___________s, it is only logical that they should be responsible.
On the other hand, only consumers can f______________s of large corporations by b________________g their products. This is b_______________d in cities where it used to be c______________n to package fruits and vegetables in plastic, such as Chiang Mai in Thailand. C___________________________s among l_________s have had a d_______________________t on companies. It is now much more common to find bananas b______e or simply wrapped in natural leaves and vegetables t_________________r with a single piece of string to l_______________________________t. This same practice e_______________d in cities around the world will have the l_________________________t on the environment.
In conclusion, the only p__________________y to p____________________________________d corporations to r_______________________________s is by putting c__________________e on their b____________________s. If c______________s make more of an effort to s______________r of heavily packaged products in favour of more e______________________________s, this will l_______________________________g when it comes to the e____________________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by listening below:
Reading Practice
Read about this topic below:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49674153
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions about buying from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Buying
- Which item do you buy the most?
- Do you care about the price when buying an item?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are good products always expensive?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related question below and then check with my sample answer:
Plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. Some people say they should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The markets are nowadays flooded with products available in sumptuous covers and packages, often overly done. Many feel that the customers should avoid purchasing the over-packaged products while many others consider leaving the responsibility to the supermarkets and producers. In my view, both groups are responsible.
Those supporting customers’ responsibility for boycotting over-packaged foods believe that the producers function on the principle of supply and demand. They keep selling absurdly over-packaged products mainly because some buy their fancifully packaged products. McDonald, as an example, is known to package its produce in paper cover then in a cardboard box, and finally in a paper handbag. The entire packaging shoots up the price of the product significantly, but as the customers raise no objection, it does not feel to cut down on excess packaging. As many of the businesses and supermarkets consider their own profit, not much can be expected from them. However, if the consumers stop buying the products which are luxuriously packaged, the supermarkets will be forced to shun such products, and the manufacturers will decide to change their packaging policy.
On the other hand, many believe that consumers are less responsible as they are too busy to consider the harm some products might cause to the ecosystem. Not all customers are equally nature-conscious, not even aware of the harm to the environment, so the responsibility falls on the manufacturers’ shoulders to curtail over-packaging. Many food corporations are funded by loans granted by the governments and banks so, in turn, they need to devise intelligent ways to sell their products and, at the same time, save the environment.
In a nutshell, both the individuals and the producers must willingly take necessary steps to minimize the harm to the ecosystem by avoiding buying over-packaged foods and considering wiser ways of packaging, respectively. In my view, this is a serious matter that requires greater coordination between both sides and the outcome is mutually beneficial.