America has issues—loads of them. And while I write solely about packaging design, there is, believe it or not, plenty of crossover between politics and packaging. One of them is this big, golden, ever-popular, often-discussed idea of sustainability and its seemingly infinite definitions.

Seeking a more sustainable way of life can feel as futile as the chasing arrows of the recycling symbol, especially when some consumers can’t find the time to recycle the three plastic containers of expired sour cream they found post-refrigerator purge. At least in America, we are in dire need of reframing our mindsets regarding packaging design and single-use plastics and how it relates to the future of our planet.

But where would we even begin? And who do these seemingly enormous responsibilities fall on? Is it big corporations? Consumers? Designers? Lawmakers? Gen Z? Sure, in actuality, it takes everyone to be an active participant to make a difference, but we can also look to other countries like France, with an anti-waste model already in place. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel or start from scratch; we just need to, you know, actually do something.