Amazon.com is launching a multi-year program this holiday season as part of their effort to go Green, offering a select few popular products in recyclable cardboard packaging. They call it "Frustration-Free Packaging." That's right - no hermetically sealed plastic clamshells, cut-inducing sharp plastic edges, or annoying metal twist-ties.

Sure, the packaged toy (or mouse, or memory card) may not look pretty on the shelf or under the wrapping, but opting for the cardboard will save you from what Amazon refers to as "wrap rage" and the late-night, pre-holiday panic that sets in when you realize you don't have a pair of bolt cutters sitting around.

More importantly, the cardboard boxes are fully recyclable, reducing the use of excess plastics and other non-biodegradable materials.

It's a small step; right now the program is only offered for 19 popular products. And it's pretty funny that Amazon's revolutionary new packaging is just a rediscovery of what companies used before the ubiquitous plastic came into use. But I still applaud Amazon for taking this step, and hope other companies will follow Amazon's example.