Unwrapped: Embracing the Packaging-Free Shopping Revolution

According to Eurostat, in 2023, the amount of municipal waste generated per person in the EU amounted to 511 kg. Our daily life, laden with plastic-wrapped vegetables, fruit, pasta, meat, and fish, contributes to a mounting crisis. 

Our World Data states that in Europe, about 40% of all plastic waste comes from food packaging. In 2023, ​‘paper and cardboard’ emerged as the predominant packaging waste material in the EU, reaching 32 million tonnes in 2023. This was closely followed by plastic, with 15.8 million tonnes, and glass packaging waste at 14.9 million tonnes. This packaging menace not only litters our environment but also poses significant risks to wildlife and our health.

But fear not, for there is a more sustainable solution! Embark on a journey to bulk stores, packaging-free or zero waste shops, where you can purchase a variety of healthy and/​or biological foods and safe cleaning products, all devoid of detrimental packaging.

Why Plastic Packaging?

Plastic packaging has been a permanent fixture on supermarket shelves and has been deemed a necessary evil that prevents food waste and preserves the freshness and taste of fruits and vegetables. However, an 18-month study by the sustainability charity Wrap revealed that single-use plastic packaging does not significantly extend the shelf life of fresh produce such as apples, bananas, and potatoes, and may actually lead to increased food waste by encouraging consumers to buy more than needed.

The research suggests that improved storage conditions and buying appropriate quantities of food are more effective in reducing waste than plastic packaging. If supermarkets sold these items loose without best-before dates, it could save over 10,300 tonnes of plastic and 100,000 tonnes of food waste annually. Therefore, zero waste shops are our strongest allies when it comes to more sustainable shopping and consumption.

Bulk stores champion the cause of minimising the distance between farmers and consumers, allowing you to purchase all your favourite products, like flour, pasta, rice, and even wine, directly from local producers. This supports your community’s economy and guarantees fresh, wholesome food on your table.

It’s important to note that organic produce is often wrapped in plastic to prevent cross-contamination from non-organic goods. Yet, when you shop at zero waste outlets that exclusively stock organic products, this concern is eliminated.

While packaging does have its justification in certain cases, more often than not, it serves merely as a tool for convenience or marketing rather than necessity.

Packaging Free Shops

In packaging-free shops, you can indulge in an array of products for both personal and family use without the guilt of contributing to the plastic problem. These stores encourage you to bring your own containers, significantly cutting down on waste. Even if you forget your jars or bags, many shops offer sustainable alternatives like recyclable paper bags or the option to purchase empty containers.

These package free hubs often source their products from local suppliers, thus reducing transportation emissions and ensuring you enjoy fresh, delectable produce without the waste. By opting for a packaging-free lifestyle, you can significantly reduce your waste footprint, contributing positively to the environment, your well-being, and local agriculture.

Curious to dive deeper into the world of zero waste shopping? Discover a variety of zero waste food or cosmetics shops, and immerse yourself in a more sustainable lifestyle.

Discover the best packaging free stores in Belgium and the Netherlands

Get out your jars, bottles and reusable bags and go zero waste shopping at one of the shops!

Robuust

Packaging-free shopping in Antwerp

In Antwerp, you can shop packaging-free at Robuust. As the first packaging-free store in Belgium, they know everything about zero-waste shopping. Besides dry goods, Robuust also offers organic vegetables, fruit and other fresh produce without plastic. These are locally grown and seasonal. You’ll also find zero-waste personal care products and various eco-friendlier and refillable household products for your bathroom and kitchen. Bring your own pots, bottles and bags and avoid plastic waste!

Tarra verpakkingsvrij

Zero waste shopping in Dendermonde

Also in Dendermonde you can shop zero waste. At Tarra Verpakkingsvrij they have a selection that is primarily vegan, with many gluten-free options available. Discover dry foods, including nuts, pasta, rice and flour, as well as herbs, tea and oils at refill stations. Besides food, Tarra Verpakkingsvrij also offers zero waste and reusable personal care products such as washable sanitary towels, shampoo bars, natural cleaning products and toilet paper without plastic packaging.

Gimsel in De Groene Passage

Packaging-free shopping in Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s most sustainable hotspot is De Groene Passage. Here you’ll find everything you need for a more sustainable lifestyle under one roof. For example, you can shop packaging-free at Gimsel, a supermarket for more natural foods and cosmetics. Not the entire store is packaging-free, but there’s a refill station where you can bring your own packaging and fill it with items like nuts, seeds, oats and dried fruit. Also the fruit and vegetable section is also completely plastic-free!

The Barn

Organic and zero waste food market in Antwerp

There are even more zero-waste shopping options in Antwerp. Meet The Barn! This indoor organic market offers organic food at affordable prices. You’ll discover seasonal products from local Belgian and European farmers and producers. Stop by at The Barn and buy organic groceries without plastic waste!

Kudzu

Online low waste supermarket

Meet an online store committed to minimise waste: Kudzu. This Bruges-based webshop shows that there are many more sustainable and reusable alternatives for everyday products. Not everything in the online store is packaging-free, but most products have no or plastic-free packaging. Discover packaging-free laundry strips, soap and shampoo bars, as well as products that support a packaging-free lifestyle, such as bulk bags, bread and vegetable bags, storage jars and bottles, food clips, reusable water bottles and more. This online store also pays attention to detail: all shipping packaging is easily recycled or made from recycled materials.

De Groene Vos

low waste shopping in Arnhem

Okay, let’s be honest right away: this store isn’t completely packaging-free. But the good thing is that De Groene Vos in Arnhem is doing everything it can to offer more sustainable products that create as little waste as possible. For example, you’ll find almost no plastic packaging in the store, they have their own repair café and they offer workshops to promote a zero-waste lifestyle, such as a lecture on ​‘Arnhem Plastic-Free’ and how to grow your own mushrooms. They also sell products to help you achieve a zero-waste lifestyle, such as reusable water bottles and sandwich bags, educational and inspirational books and water- and energy-saving products.

Boavista Circular 

Low waste cleaning products in Amsterdam

Embark on a packaging free shopping journey and invest in household products with zero to low waste. At the Amsterdam brand Boavista Circular they know how to create these kinds of products. Discover alternatives to plastic bottled soaps and start to use ecofriendlier dish wash soap bars, together with their ecofriendlier sponge/​scrubber, made from 80% recycled ocean pollution. Or discover their 100% natural and plastic free laundry detergent: the good old soap nuts are making their way back into your daily washing routine. 

Zepig Utrecht

Low waste care products in Utrecht

Looking for personal care products with minimal (plastic) packaging? Then Zepig in Utrecht is your place to go. You’ll find a wide range of around 80 (!) more sustainable and environmentally friendlier personal care brands. These products often have some packaging, but they do everything they can to make it as minimal and sustainable as possible. For example bulk packaging with washing powder, plastic-free dishwasher tablets, solid dish soap,and soap and shampoo bars. Think of brands like Nature Bar, Boavista Circular, Foekje Fleur and BOTMA & van BENNEKOM.

Want to discover more tips for a zero waste lifestyle?

• Zero waste laundry: this is how you improve your washing routine
• Go Zero Waste Thanks to These 7 Easy Tips
• Breaking the stigma around menstrual health + tips for more sustainable menstrual products
• Fact or myth: how sustainable are laundry sheets really?
• Upcycling as art: these Belgian designers redesign the future