Zero Waste Stores: Myth or Reality?

Problems of modern civilization

A special characteristic of the 21st century is that every little thing takes on a global scale due to the huge number of people on Earth. So, plastic unknown a hundred years ago (it was obtained by the English metallurgist and inventor Alexander Parkes in 1855) can now be found in any place of the Planet, even inaccessible to humans. Well, is it possible today to imagine our life without this “miracle” of civilization? However, plastic, in addition to all the conveniences, has two important drawbacks. First, it is produced from non-renewable natural resources: oil, coal and gas. Secondly, its main advantage, which inventors were so chasing at the beginning of the last century - durability - has turned into a disaster today. The more plastic we use, the faster the mountains of waste grow, which do not decompose in the environment under any conditions. Millions, millions of tons of plastic accumulate in nature, polluting the environment with released toxins, causing climate change, death and mutation of living organisms, new incurable diseases.

But the main problem is not even the amount of plastic used, but the disposability of its use. “Bought-thrown-bought” is the most terrible formula that makes humanity move inexorably towards a dead end. But is it really all that scary? As always, the simplest is the most difficult - to refuse single use, reduce the production / consumption of non-degradable plastic, recycle waste. The basis of these actions lies in focusing on general rather than local goals: it is necessary to understand that more than 7.2 billion people now live on Earth and the actions of each of them affect our lives. You should not think that any changes in the climate will affect only a certain people or country, or pollution of the ocean with garbage threatens only the United States and Canada. This is not true at all. All inhabitants of every corner of the planet are interconnected by one air, water, food chain, etc. Deforestation in the Amazon will result in sharp changes in critical temperatures in the middle latitudes, and severe monsoons in the tropics.

This trend is negatively affected by the fact that few people know about these problems. Scientists are sounding the alarm, but this is not covered in the public. Producers benefit from selling their products and lobbying for short-term (globally) interests, despite the dire consequences. But with the slightest interest in this issue, you can find a lot of information in order to continue not to be led by advertising and your own comfort, but to act consciously for the benefit of the whole world. And it's not as difficult as it seems.

Way out of the "plastic dead end"

Very often you can hear from people that it is impossible to go to the store without disposable bags. And there is nothing to wrap, and unhygienic, and simply inconvenient. Well, we bring to your attention the existing alternative stores, in which a miracle happened and the impossible became possible.

In Germany (the leading European country in terms of ecology), has opened for the eco-conscious population Original Unverpackt (Original unpacked) , in which there are neither plastic nor paper bags. The store uses a system of containers filled with products (bulk bin system), from which you can pour the required volume. The idea is that each customer brings their own container (tube, glass jar) and fills it, and can also use recycled bags provided in the store. Even shampoo and milk can be collected in reusable containers. This approach allows customers to purchase as much product as they need without taking their trash home with them. The goods presented are not famous brands, but organic products.

According to founders Sara Wolf and Milena Glimbovski, the store's mission is to stop the accumulation of garbage caused by food packaging by selling products in an environmentally sustainable way (Germany alone generates 16 million tons of garbage annually).

France also boasts a store that is free of plastic waste and that shoppers bring their own reusable containers. Alice Bigorgne worked in a regular supermarket until she read Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home, after which her life changed dramatically and she opened a Day by Day store ( "Day after day") in the city of Lille in northern France. Today it is a network of five small stores across the country, with 450 types of products that can be collected in your own containers or provided by other buyers. Not only does this help reduce waste, but it also saves money, as packaging costs are typically included in the price of goods—with savings sometimes as high as 40 percent, according to Bigorne. Another great benefit is that you can buy even marginally small portions of the product, down to a single cinnamon stick, thus reducing the food waste that comes from over-buying. According to statistics, about 24% of the food produced goes to landfill.

The first Alternative Natural Foods Co-op was organized by 100 students and citizens in 1970 in Corvallis, Oregon, USA . Currently, two stores, owned by 10,000 people, sell products from local farmers and more than 800 items by weight. In addition, the cooperative has a number of environmental initiatives :

The store's small Co-op Recycling Center accepts waste from consumers that can't be left in conventional bins for separate collection or in the absence of such: “Together we can stop increasing the number of landfills and start doing something good from our trash." All recyclable materials are distributed to processing plants for re-launching into circulation and the production of new goods. The results of the work of this center are the obtained oil from thermal film and molding foam, insulating materials and floor coverings from natural cork, and much more.
Each store is equipped with a 6.16-kilowatt solar panel, which reduces dependence on the grid and also significantly reduces carbon emissions (savings equivalent to 139,676 car miles).
One of the stores has a collector to collect rainwater from the roofs, which is then used to water the plants.
Selling locally produced products not only raises the local budget, but also significantly reduces transport costs and carbon emissions.
In the construction of the premises, old materials are used, as well as energy-efficient equipment, energy-saving lamps and other modern installations are installed. Offices are cleaned with green cleaners and recycled items (like free pens for customers) and soybean ink.
Daily transfers between the two stores are carried out by an electric car powered by renewable energy sources.
All production departments, as well as break rooms and the public canteen, have compost bins and recycling bins, which are also available free of charge to customers. The company donates all unnecessary things to other enterprises. Thus, a waste-free production system works.

So is it really so impossible to live without plastic? In fact, it only takes a little effort to explore the available opportunities, the desire to do a good deed and the awareness of the population about this problem. The last one is what we do. And then - it's up to you. Unfortunately, no such precedents have been found on the territory of the post-Soviet space. But who knows, maybe you will be the next one on this list of miracle stores? 🙂

May all living beings be happy! 🙂

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