Packaging and the resulting waste is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In Germany alone, some 16 million tonnes of packaging waste is yearly produced. As a reaction in Berlin – always on the forefront of new developments when it comes to eco-consciousness – a packaging-free supermarket has opened. This grocery store of the future is called ‘Original Unverpackt’ (Original Unpackaged) and got rid of all packaging and brands resulting in less recycling, less waste.
 
How does it work? Clients bring their own reusable containers, boxes and jars to the store and fill them up with dry goods such as pastas, nuts and rice which are stored in dispenser bins. Milk, juices and other liquids are sold in bottles with a deposit on them. At the cash desk, clients pay for what they buy based on the weight of the goods.

‘Back to the roots – back to the basics, but with innovation and style’ is the motto of initiators Sara Wolf and Milena Glimbovski. This becomes also clear in the store design: contemporary, with respect to the historical building and with smart solutions to create space for all the dispensers. Original Unverpackt proves that waste-free shopping can be simple and even fun.
 
Arthur Groeneveld
 
original-unverpackt
 
A Guy Named Arturo, the alias of Amsterdam/Berlin-based creative consultant Arthur Groeneveld (1986), is an interdisciplinary one-man-show offering brand support, communications, art direction, trend forecasting, and creative research. Also, he forms part of creative duo Arturo Bamboo.
 
aguynamedarturo.com