By Natalia Lovecchio. Partner and head of FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
Most of the waste we produce is associated with food, drink and cleaning product packaging, which is why many brands have begun to work on reducing their environmental impact.
The advances in the development of new types of packaging that are more respectful of the environment are well known. There are more and more initiatives, products and projects that use containers made from recycled materials and even natural materials. For example, new packaging for liquids that uses less plastic thanks to its exterior made of pressed natural fibres. I propose to reflect on another way of dealing with the issue: bulk sales.
Bulk sales are becoming more common in large stores, where they coexist with packaged products of different levels of premium quality. The Alcampo chain, for example, has been working in this direction for some time, and in fact, its bulk purchasing areas are becoming increasingly popular.
Brands and retailers are having a hard time accepting this trend, but consumers have always been buying this way. Who hasn't bought tea or spices at a market? Have you visited shops selling bulk wine? Do you know the fair trade shops where you can buy products as diverse as coffee or detergent in bulk?
The truth is that there are still no initiatives that combine different types of products and origins. Perhaps In.gredients is one of the first zero packaging store initiatives. The idea is to bring your own packaging: milk bottle, egg carton, cloth bags for fruit and vegetables, shower gel bottle. At the moment it is only a project developed in the USA close to launch. When it opens, it will be the first grocery store free of waste caused by packaging.
What is interesting to analyze is how these new consumer experiences impact brands. Currently, it is the packaging that identifies the content with a particular brand. What would happen if the packaging disappeared? Are brands prepared to sell their products in bulk?
Originally published at: It is Possible Magazine
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