Atlanta, Georgia – Some Costco customers in the United States are expressing discontent after the retailer made changes to the packaging of its popular rotisserie chickens. Previously, the chickens were packaged in a plastic clamshell container, but now they are being sold in plastic food service bags, a move Costco says is more environmentally friendly. This shift began in March 2024 and has now been implemented nationwide.
The transition to the new packaging was detailed in Costco’s magazine, Costco Connections, where they explained that this change would result in saving millions of pounds of plastic annually. The new bags not only require less space for transportation but also contribute to reducing the company’s carbon footprint by eliminating a significant number of freight trucks from the road. Despite these environmental benefits, many consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with the new packaging.
On social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, individuals have voiced their concerns about the leakiness of the new bags, the inconvenience for storing leftovers, and the perceived difficulty in selecting high-quality chickens from the new packaging. Some have also pointed out that the new bags are not recyclable in certain areas, leading to increased waste in landfills.
Costco’s rotisserie chicken has been a longtime favorite among customers, priced at $4.99 for decades. In 2023, Costco reported selling 137 million rotisserie chickens, marking a significant increase from the previous year. However, despite the popularity of the product, the recent packaging change has sparked a wave of criticism from loyal Costco shoppers.
As consumers continue to adjust to the new packaging, concerns about its practicality, environmental impact, and overall quality persist. Costco has yet to address these issues publicly, leaving many customers wondering if their feedback will be taken into consideration moving forward. Whether Costco will reconsider its packaging decision in response to customer feedback remains to be seen.
