House Energy and Commerce - Product Packaging - 18155-1-DVD - House Energy and Commerce Committee. Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials. The subcommittee heard testimony on unnecessary packaging materials accompanying American consumer products. The witnesses, including representatives of American manufacturers and marketing analysts as well as environmental activists, discussed issues concerning packaging materials including their effect on the environment and the effect of packaging on consumer behavior. Product packaging makes up the largest segment by weight of American landfills, making up 32 percent of the nation’s solid waste by weight. Specific instances of product packaging singled out for excessive and unnecessary use of resources in the hearing include laundry detergent, "longbox" packaging of compact discs, and preservative packaging for food. The first hour has an extended discussion of packaging alternatives for music CD's. Filmed by C-SPAN. Non-commercial use only. For more information, see