Simple question: how do you tackle the problem of excess packaging? Answer: get rid of it completely.
A number of supermarkets, brands and even government agencies have been promoting their commitment to reducing excess packaging on their products but (as usual), niche businesses are leading the way.
London-based grocer Unpackaged, for example, has done away with packaging completely. Customers bring along whatever containers they like to be filled with anything from veggies to coffee and household cleaners to eco-friendly toiletries. Prices are based on weight.
From their site:
How it works
- Remember to bring your containers* from home
- Come to Unpackaged and say hello
- Choose the product and amount you want
- Take your goods home in your own containers (if you forget, we have reusable bags)
- When you’ve run out, come back for a refill, simple as that!
*Containers: bring anything you like, there’s nothing to date that we haven’t been able to refill (even our lovely friend who likes putting lentils in old water bottles!) Bring glass jars, tupperware, old takeaway cartons, brown paper bags, plastic bags, old packaging.. if it’s heavy, we’ll weigh it first, if it’s light then just refill and we’ll weigh at the end.
As you’d expect, their green ethos continues beyond packaging too. Most products are certified organic and preference is given to locally-produced goods and social enterprise suppliers. Goods which have been air freighted are not stocked.
The best niche businesses are the ones that live and breathe their niche – not just pay lip service to it. It is this kind of focus that can help small businesses compete with bigger players – and has help Unpackaged grow from market stall to award-winning business with a cult following and impressive media coverage.
Site: beunpackaged.com
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
If you find this idea innovative..then i guess you should plan a trip to India..every grocer sells it that way and we are told that modern retail, read ” packaged items” are the future.
Good point. I think there’s a lot that can be learned by looking at what other cultures consider the norm and seeing how that might be applied closer to home.
There’s also a visible trend towards re-adopting ideas which have been considered out of date or out of fashion. Of the top of my head, I can think of quite a few businesses re-imagining ideas like regular home delivery of fresh produce. What used to be commonplace now becomes innovative again.
That looks like a kind of shop that would have a lot of clients in Canada, Montreal or Vancouver, for instance.
It’s eco-friendly so it’s interesting for those who are concerned about the environment, but being “green” is also trendy and different, so this type of business can reach out to “cool” people as well.
Regular home delivery of fresh produce directly from the farm is pretty common in Québec too.