Very true, Macro or other health food stores offer loose products but can't compete on price with supermarkets.
Mainly because people are disgusting thieves and will 'return' their used batteries, light bulbs, etc as if they were the 'new' item sold. Or open the container and have a taste (or a meal!). Some things (eg breakfast cereals, bread, crackers) are sealed to preserve freshness.
Batteries and light bulbs though often have very thick plastic casing, probably at least twice as much plastic as is needed. Sometimes crackers and biscuits are in plastic trays inside the plastic wrappers. When the plastic packaging is the minimum possible, I don't have a problem, at least not until an effective biodegradable alternative becomes available.
