Original Unverpackt – a supermarket without packaging in Germany

Supermarket unpackaged

Germany plans to introduce the country’s first non-waste supermarket. Berlin's Original Unverpackt is the brainchild of friends Sarah Wolf and Milena Glimbowski. Frustrated by the over-packaging and wastefulness they had faced all their lives in the retail food industry, the young women decided to take action and launched a crowdfunding campaign in early May that successfully exceeded all expectations. They now have the means to open their first store this summer.

Supermarket unpackaged



The concept of the store is very simple: all food is provided in kind, unpackaged, and customers bring with them bags, bags or whatever they need to deliver groceries home. If the customer has forgotten his container at home, he can take reusable packages in the store, or use bags of recycled paper. While a similar concept has been introduced before in grocery co-ops, Unverpackt will take the concept to the next level, with no single disposable packaging or pre-packaged items.



Supermarket unpackaged



Before the opening of the supermarket, it was stated: “You will not find countless brands of each product, because one, but the “right” product is enough.”
Each product, if possible, will be locally produced to reduce shipping costs, while offering organic and less expensive conventional products. "Every buyer should be able to afford to help the environment," the two friends added in an interview.



Supermarket unpackaged



Bulk goods will be placed in dispensers to allow customers to purchase products just as much as they need, rather than overpaying for standard packaging.



Supermarket unpackaged



Sarah Wolf and Milena Glimbowski aim to provide a real alternative to large supermarket chains in Germany and plan to expand the number of stores as soon as finances allow. Given that the crowdfunding campaign has already brought them more than double the planned €45,000, the friends said they would soon be able to substantially reduce the huge amount of packaging waste, which is produced in Germany alone by 16 million tonnes a year.

Source: www.ecobyt.ru/