Zero-Packaging Grocery Store

[jobert]

We overpackage our products to mitigate what retailers term as "shrinkage" (shoplifting). Ever wonder why a tiny portable USB from Best Buy is packaged in a plastic carton the size of a binder? It's sad. They probably don't have that problem in Germany.

[mukraker]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

I understand the concept, but, I'll be blunt: you and I both know they will be nothing but white people in that store - in the middle of the eastside!

Remember, folks, this is Texas y'all! Hilarious!

I read about this and thought it was interesting, maybe a little on the trendy side, but something that ultimately had good intentions. Then I read their website -- they don't even have a specific location yet, just "coming soon to EAST Austin" (emphasis mine). Hilarious. It'll be full of gentrification hipsters.

If they really wanted to be effective, why not put it closer to the center of town? More curious people will try it and convert to the concept it if it's not completely out of the way.

Building it on the east side = preaching to the choir.

[janmc]

Paper or plastic? I'm a plastic bag chooser! I recycle them. The cashier at HEB told me horror stories about the bacteria in the reusable bags. She said most people don't wash them, and they are disgusting. She hates when they hand them to her all dirty. The baggers hate it too.

Paper bag handles break. I'm not up to bringing my own containers to haul my goods. Terra Toys gives you a dirty look if you ask for a bag.

[eichlerfan]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

If you are interested, check out this woman's blog. She had to FIGHT stores to allow her to have zero packaging. It's really an interesting read. She collected ALL the trash her family of 4 produced in one year. It was barely enough to fit into a cigar box. These people are hard core.

The Zero Waste Home

I follow this families blog. I'm not that hard core, but I try to do the best I can.

[capcat]

Re: reusable bags and bacteria...we can't just keep using things up in general, or use the energy to recycle it in such vast quantities. I suspect there's as much bacteria in and on things such as grocery carts, produce bins, keypads, etc. as there is in a reusable bag.


There's so much waste in general it's a shame, and some packaging isn't recyclable. It may be small, but multiply that times hundreds of thousands plus and we'll someday be buried in our own stuff.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by janmc

Paper or plastic? I'm a plastic bag chooser! I recycle them. The cashier at HEB told me horror stories about the bacteria in the reusable bags. She said most people don't wash them, and they are disgusting. She hates when they hand them to her all dirty. The baggers hate it too.

Paper bag handles break. I'm not up to bringing my own containers to haul my goods. Terra Toys gives you a dirty look if you ask for a bag.

Umm, have you heard of the washing machine? I wash my "green" reusable bags in hot water and they come out smelling fresh and clean.

I'm all for reusable bags at the grocery store. However, bulk bins with access for all can be a health hazard. But so can salad bars and all you can eat buffets for that matter and I partake of them so perhaps I will adjust to that as well. I guess I'll just be cooking a lot of the foods instead of serving them in salads. But then I'm using natural gas to heat the water that boils the vegetables. I guess you can never win, eh?

[janmc]

Originally Posted by cBach

Umm, have you heard of the washing machine? I wash my "green" reusable bags in hot water and they come out smelling fresh and clean.

I'm all for reusable bags at the grocery store. However, bulk bins with access for all can be a health hazard. But so can salad bars and all you can eat buffets for that matter and I partake of them so perhaps I will adjust to that as well. I guess I'll just be cooking a lot of the foods instead of serving them in salads. But then I'm using natural gas to heat the water that boils the vegetables. I guess you can never win, eh?

I understand that some people wash, but according to the cashier, most people don't wash them and expect the workers to handle them.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by janmc

Paper or plastic? I'm a plastic bag chooser! I recycle them. The cashier at HEB told me horror stories about the bacteria in the reusable bags. She said most people don't wash them, and they are disgusting. She hates when they hand them to her all dirty. The baggers hate it too.

Paper bag handles break. I'm not up to bringing my own containers to haul my goods. Terra Toys gives you a dirty look if you ask for a bag.

You keep saying a lot of things are disgusting.

You of course have the right to choose plastic if you want, but to everyone else, remember, it's REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE. Recycling is supposed to be the last resort. Lowering usage and comsuption comes first.

A lot of the energy that goes into recycling washes out any eco advantages to it. It's better than nothing, but there are better options out there.

Especially plastic bags.

[janmc]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

You keep saying a lot of things are disgusting.

You of course have the right to choose plastic if you want, but to everyone else, remember, it's REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE. Recycling is supposed to be the last resort. Lowering usage and comsuption comes first.

A lot of the energy that goes into recycling washes out any eco advantages to it. It's better than nothing, but there are better options out there.

Especially plastic bags.

Make sure you wash your recycled bags so the cashier's don't have to touch them. That's disgusting. It really is disgusting. Disgusting by far!