I hear what you are saying and have an interest in 'international development' but this comment is getting off topic really.
Most of the wild caught fish in the hobby are exported from developing nations and the industry is a major source of income in some developing nations, and more importantly some otherwise impoverished communities. Further, involving the indigenous population in fish and plant collecting can have positive outcomes for conservation. None of this would be possible without plastic packaging.
I’ve really been wanting some gold laser Cories and a relatively local store currently has some beautiful specimens in stock. They’re wild caught though, and I’ve always been against buying wild caught. I have concerns about the ethics in terms of taking animals from the wild, as well as...
www.ukaps.org
I should say, I haven't read minutes of AGMs or read annual reports or news, and I would dare to believe that they do continually improve the efficiency of their production processes and greenhouses. However, there doesn't seem to be any attempt to have that impact the product branding or message or make improvements at the immediate product level. I assume that is either because there is no attempt to make improvements in that area or because they believe either rightly or wrongly that customers don't care
Efficiencies always impact on a business's bottom line. This especially so when energy costs are at an all time high and margins are already squeezed to the limit. And especially when you have hectares of greenhouses to heat and water, and are trying to absorb some of those escalating costs to keep the retailers who sell your products in business.
It makes cold hard economic sense for companies like Tropica and Dennerle, to have long since developed best and low cost strategies and practice, and that involves the use of plastic packaging. Without it their business would no longer be able to distribute to an international market place and spread costs through increased turnover, and therefore would no longer be as viable.
Without plastic packaging they would be less able to support nurseries and associated jobs in developing countries. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, not least providing jobs for the poorest of poor in those nations, but it also enables the likes of Tropica to keep costs down, which would otherwise be transferred to the consumer, the likes of us.
Higher costs mean the hobby would become increasingly inaccessible, which in turn would lower demand, increase unemployment, result in less international development, and ultimately the hobby would probably become increasingly niche and exclusive.
