Wasteful Packaging

[fighting_cax]

Many consumers are concerned about the ecological effects of wasteful packaging. This concern probably explains why stores have been quick to stock new cleaning products that have been produced in a concentrated form. The concentrated form is packaged in smaller containers that use less plastic and require less transportation space.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the explanation offered above?
(A) Few consumers believe that containers of concentrated cleaning products are merely small packages of regular cleaning products.
(B) The containers in which concentrated cleaning products are packaged are no harder to recycle than those in which regular cleaning products are packaged.
(C) Those concentrated cleaning products that are intended to be used diluted have clear instructions for dilution printed on their labels.
(D) The smaller containers of concentrated cleaning products enable supermarkets and drugstores to increase their revenues from a given shelf space.
(E) Consumer pressure has led to the elimination of wasteful cardboard packaging that was used for compact discs.

OA is D

Please explain.

[ellexay]

You're looking for a reason to doubt the proposed link between (a) consumers caring about the environment and (b) the resulting increase in smaller/different packaging found in stores.

Thus, D. This answer proposes a strong *alternative* explanation by saying that the main reason for the smaller packaging is that stores are focusing on revenue, rather than consumers' concerns.

[fighting_cax]

Thanks Ellexay!

[PAB2706]

I need more clear explanation for this one....

I chose B..and i dnt know why the answer is D

[cameronwu]

I need more clear explanation for this one....

I chose B..and i dnt know why the answer is D

There are a few reasons why B isn't the answer. First, the fact that large containers are just as easy to recycle does not necessarily address all ecological effects that consumers might be worried about. In our minds, we naturally make those associations of pro-environment, recycling, and kinda lump them all together into one idea. But try not to do this - only use the information the stimulus gives you. Secondly, the fact that something is easy to recycle has little bearing on the relationship between consumer ecological preferences and motivation for the store to provide certain products. Even though this answer choice slightly weakens the conclusion, you have to make a lot of assumptions - namely that "Recyclability accounts for all consumer ecological concerns."

D is the much better answer choice because it directly addresses an alternative as to why the stores might be going for smaller containers - they can put more merchandise per area and thus have more profit potential. It completely undermines the idea that stores actually care about consumer environmental preferences

The Stimulus conclusion is: "Stores adjust their products because they want to cater to the environmentally-minded customers"

D's conclusion is: "Stores adjust their products because they can put more products per shelf and make more money."

D is a direct undermining of the stimulus conclusion.

[bignasty666]

conclusion is that stores perceive consumers care about ecological packaging..Evidence is the smaller boxes introduced by the shops..you are required to undermine the conclusion

D does that by stating stores have introduced smaller boxes to maximise on space. hence D!!!!

[james33]

I'd say D but I'm afraid more because of my intuition than any logic.