How to construct the first waste-free supermarket

Supermarkets, one after another, refuse to use plastic bags. German Original Unverpackt went even further and proposed a new concept store with reusable containers – containers, canvas bags and containers that the buyer brings with him.





Ugly at first glance, the store Original Unverpackt in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin – in fact the world's first waste-free supermarket. There's not a single product in the package – the clients themselves have to sprinkle or pour the product, weigh it and then make a purchase.





Shop, the authors of the idea which became Sara wolf and Milena Glimbovsky, located on Wiener Straße in former meat. Now meat in stock, but there is a lot of other products.





Shop size 70 sq. m. is more like a small shop than on the classic supermarket. Interest in the innovative supermarket was huge even before its opening – the money for its creation were collected through crowdfunding. But already in the first days of the campaign, when all were gathered the desired amount, it became clear that the project will be successful. In 40 days project has received funding considerably exceeds expectations, and with the approval and support of residents from across the country.





Of the 600 planned products and home goods since the beginning of sales on the shelves located only about 350 goods. About 80% of them are bio – products. In large containers presents nuts, muesli, rice and noodles of different types.





In large glass jars – spices and tea. They are easy to put ourselves – enough spoon to take as needed.





The sign said: if you put too much product, you can return it to the cashier. In store – self service. Everyone decides for himself, to take him 200 g of pasta or 2 kg of muesli.





The poster clearly explains how the system works. If the buyer comes to the store with my own containers and containers, you will first need to weigh to get the sticker and then fill.





In the store you can buy and household tools, and cosmetics – deodorants, shampoos, shower gels and even washing powder. Innovative toothpaste tablets are sold at a price 390,82 euros per kilo. This reserve, however, will last a lifetime.





If you forget a suitable container at home, in the store you can find a variety of paper bags, metal, plastic and glass jars, cloth bags. The price of this package starts from 20 cents.





Spaghetti or pasta for lasagna will have to take a disposable glove. Kilogram of factory spaghetti in the store is 55 cents and the same amount of tea mate – of 29.39 euros.





Milk and yogurt are placed in glass containers – however, as in other supermarkets.





Due to the fact that the cashier has to weigh the individual products, it takes a little longer than the chain stores.





White tiles, gleaming metal, plastic pipettes and glass containers: sterile line, which was created by architect Michael brown. On the wall hangs a transparent tube filled with cereal and chocolate. On the contrary you can find a metal container filled with wine and vinegar.





The purpose of wolf and Glimbovsky – to make products at a price the same as in supermarkets.





Most of the produce gets to the store directly from regional farms. So, on the table in the center of the store you can find homemade marmalade Spreewald, honey from Uckermark and a bio lemonade from Berlin.





The main idea of the store – the idea of the so-called precycling is at the initial stage to refuse the package, so as to contribute to the fight against millions of tons of packaging waste annually to produce the Germans.





The founder of the project believe that the current trade model has no future. Therefore, the transition to trade without packaging improves the environment and is of great benefit to society.





The average in Germany is about twice the packages and disposable packaging than it was 20 years ago. The reason is simple: the material from which the manufactured packaging, cheap, light and durable.





Now the store has 10 employees. The first branch will be the size of 100 sq m. Even before the official start of sales in the store, the Berlin businesswoman received a huge number of proposals for opening branches of the franchise throughout Germany. published

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

Source: www.ecology.md