Pack-Unpack

The biggest part of waste problem is a pack. The majority of pack is produced from plastic and oil sub-products.

Everyday each of us uses some plastic objects like plastic bottles, glasses, pockets and others once.

The most of them is thrown right away almost at the moment of buying. For example when you buy a cup of coffee you throw the plastic glass away after some minutes. Moreover to use plastic utensil for hot drinks is very dangerous for health. 

Luis Enrique (Venezuela) created eatable cups for Lavazza company coffee.

This eatable cup is made from cookie and covered inside by sugary powder. 

One more idea about unpacked products was created and realized by Catherine Conway in 2006. She founded the company “Unpackaged” (http://beunpackaged.com/why-packaging/) in the belief that there is a better way to sell products, so their customers can do the right thing – for themselves and for the environment. 

Catherine set up Unpackaged because she wanted to refill her groceries using her own containers. The dream was to set up a beautiful shop that made it really easy for customers to come & refill all their daily essentials.

"Unpackages" vision is a world with less wasteful packaging and we’re achieving it one customer at a time!

This means:

• C0²e reduction from less packaging
• The reduction of material waste from landfill & incineration
• Positive behaviour change – we help our customers consume more sustainably
• Less food waste – buy only what you need

"Unpackages" Policies:

• We always source organic products, where available
• We source products as seasonally as possible
• We always source fair trade products, where available
• We support artisan local producers to help keep money in our local economy, giving preference to social enterprises & cooperatives
• We work with our suppliers to develop reusable packaging “up” the supply chain as well as “down” to our customers
• We apply the principles of the waste hierarchy to all our operations: reduce, reuse and recycle
• We only sell non-air freighted products
• We plan efficiently to minimise our own transportation
• We are actively involved in the local community – from local street parties to supporting environmental campaigns & hosting local school trips to teach kids about waste & the environment
• We promote healthy eating; raw, whole, unprocessed ingredients that our customers can cook for themselves

However Catherine didn’t stop and develop and distribute the idea with unpackaged product among other business to help them go ‘Unpackaged’.

There are some videos about Catherine business:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/05/03/local.green.produce.london/index.html
http://www.reuters.com/video/2008/11/17/recycle-what-about-precycle?videoId=93941&videoChannel=74

Features in many different types of publications from national newspapers to industry, design & consumer magazines. Time Out recently voted this shop the #48th best shop in London.

Catherine was voted #32 in the Observer Food Monthly Top 40 Eco Heroes.

Unpackaged was included in Time Out’s ‘Little Black Book’ of the 500 most essential services in London.
Unpackaged was set up with support from the following organisations: Multistorey, Portobello Business Centre, The Hub, Unltd, Global Tolerance, Striding Out, Sustain, Aquila Green and carpenter Andrew Roddis – do click on their sites and have a look at what they do.



The same idea was realized by three brothers Lane with their friend (Austin, USA). They opened shop «in.gridients» (http://in.gredients.com/)  what will be the first store in America what will sell products without pack.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvyTCx2Uo6k&feature=player_embedded

It's obvious that this idea is more and more recognised around the world. In my opinion there might be only one minus or reazon for non-following of this behaviour is a laziness. 

I can to affirm that on a base of my personal experience because for some years I try don't use unnecessary pack and plastic bags if it's possible to do. When I ask somebody "Why you don't do it?" I hear just one answer "I'm lazy to do it".