One of the words I hear fairly often on Masterchef Australia is “Deconstruct”. Cooks on the show reinterpret the basic elements of a dish after singling them out- and apply some imagination to the process of deconstruction as such.
I am trying to experiment with this technique- not in the kitchen but with online shopping. The number of knocks on the door are increasing by fairly efficient delivery gents who whip out a handheld device to get a squiggle from you- before depositing cardboard boxes in different shapes and sizes.
UN-BOX
Almost every box comes with the following:
– Tons of sticky tape making it difficult to open the box without a sharp tool
– Paper bill stuck to the top
– Bubble plastic wraps inside in case of fragile items (Pop them and be happy for a few minutes)
– Product with its original packaging that mostly includes plastic and stiff paper
If you have a few minutes to spare, there are ways to de-construct most of the elements of your online shopping box and extend its life.
THINK OUT OF THE BOX
For instance:
– Collect the one-sided paper bills and make scribble pads, or if there are kids around- they can color the town crazy.
– Since plastics last a lifetime, and are water-proof, see if you can make book covers or holders out of the inner wrapping. (My passport is now safe and secure in the pillow-cover packaging that arrived last week!)
– Use the cardboard box as such, irrespective of its size- to store dry, non-perishable items. Earrings, bills, stationery- whatever suits your fancy.
– Strip stiff paper into bookmarks
MAKE IT LIVE A LITTLE LONGER
My best friends daughter loved the cardboard cover of a big treadmill they bought recently. It’s a boat, a play pen, a drawing space, a pond- depending on the 8-year olds creative mood. She is quite insistent with her mom that all shoe boxes get re-used into something crafty- and lovingly holds onto all kinds of packaging that comes her way.
Invariably though, there will always be one family member who doesn’t quite like holding onto things that they feel should get binned. Just remember, it’s not hoarding when anything is being RE-PURPOSED.
