Are Promotional Packages Sent to Influencers Contributing to Increasing Levels of Packaging Waste?

Companies use the marketing strategy of sending out Press Release packages to Influencers on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Within these packages exist a specific brand’s new line or collection of products. For example, makeup companies send PR packages of their new range of foundation to select groups of beauty influencers in the online community. Boxes are typically packaged to be very appealing to the eye and inside include every shade of foundation in that new range. With the high rate of consumption, the ever-growing issue of packaging waste in the United States is increasing. The number of recycled materials that end up in landfills and in the oceans increases year by year. Within this study, I will collect and examine a specific Instagram influencer’s PR packaging and the waste that is associated. I hypothesize that PR packaging sent to Influencers is packaged with a combination of recyclable and nonrecyclable materials, which leads to higher amounts of waste. Within my study, I will be collecting the data on PR packaging received by Instagram Influencer Amber Webb, as well as observing unboxing videos on the platforms. I will examine what types of materials are used in the packaging, such as paperboard, plastic wrapping, or paper stuffing, and if it is recyclable or not. Three weeks of data collection will be presented at the symposium, it is expected to find that a majority of the packaging will end up in the landfill due to the combination of recyclable and nonrecyclable materials.