LessWrong (30+ Karma) “Label By Usable Volume” by jefftk
Mar 26, 2026
A look at how unit prices assume full usability and why advertised volumes can be misleading. A court case where bottles dispensed far less than labeled prompts a rethink of labeling rules. Packaging design affects how much product consumers can actually extract. Proposes labeling by the amount a consumer can reasonably get, with possible effects on manufacturer incentives and prices.
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Labeling Reflects Contained Volume Not Usable Volume
- Manufacturers list the amount physically in the container, not the amount a consumer can extract.
- Jeff TK cites the L'Oreal case where containers dispensed only 43%–81% of advertised volume, yet L'Oreal won in court.
Require Labels To Reflect Usable Volume
- Update labeling laws to require manufacturers to report the amount a consumer can reasonably extract.
- Jeff TK suggests measuring usable volume by container type, e.g., wide-mouth with a scraper counts full content, narrow squeeze bottles count only what squeezes out.
Align Labels To Change Packaging Incentives
- Aligning labels with usable volume changes incentives for packaging design and consumer choices.
- Jeff TK argues manufacturers might improve packaging or consumers might accept higher unit prices for easier-to-use containers.