A few days ago I was browsing the bedding aisle of Walmart in search of a satin pillowcase (my hairdresser recommended sleeping on silk in order to prevent damage). Though I did not find what I was looking for, I was a bit sidetracked by something else.

The colorful selection of pillow shams available in a sort of jersey cotton blend were lined up along the shelf. I was drawn to them! Something about their presence was very different. Rather than being displayed inside a transparent plastic bag that maintains it’s shape using a long zipper that runs along the edges of the packaging, these pillow shams are being sold in nothing more than a cotton blend drawstring pouch with a small sticker on the front and back sides.

The 5″x4″ rectangles have such a nice minimal look to them. The package design is simple and honest with consumers – this is a pillow sham, nothing else. Reducing plastic is something that generally brings me relief, and in this instance, that was particularly true. It’s a product that we sleep on, shouldn’t the packaging look as organic and comfortable as possible? A shiny layer of plastic and metal zippers create an industrial look that does not seem to coordinate with the wonderful world of sleep.

For me, this is a little packaging that’s going a long way!