What are the reasons for over-packaging?

Question

it seems like everything these days comes in huge bags and boxes but you open the box and only half of it is filled. Why?

Answer 1

1) Marketing - larger packages catch consumers' attention & appear to be a good bargain.

2) The head space helps protect the product. For example, potato chips are packed in bags filled w/ a special gas to create a pillow to protect the chips.

Answer 2

Products like this are sold by weight, not by volume. Contents shift and settle during shipping and handling, but the extra size is needed in order the get the proper product weight in the bag or box.