Dear readers,
as mentioned in one of our earlier posts we conducted an interview with the owner of the "Unverpackt"-Store in Kiel. Today you can read this interview in English as well as in German (click here).
What’s your
name?
Marie Delaperriére (de-la-per-yeah)
How did you
come up with the idea to open a plastic-free grocery store?
It is not about having a plastic free store, but rather having a
package-free, or one-way-package-free grocery store. Our dispensers are made of
plastic, because we couldn’t find another solution. I came up with the idea when
I thought of the crazy amount of trash that’s left after shopping – which has
annoyed me a lot. In addition to that I came across an article by Bea Johnson,
a woman from the US who lives without producing waste for years. I’ve read it
and mimicked what she made. After some research I found out she had a store
whose goods don’t have a one-way-packing and I wanted to have something like
that, too. Then I researched a lot on the web – where are these stores, what
can we actually provide for goods?
Marie Delaperriére
Have you
engaged yourself with this problem on a personal level, or is your interest
relating to business?
Yes, as a private person I was concerned with the
whole lot of waste that is produced by the packing of goods you shop in
groceries. As I have read an article about Bea Johnson, I have looked for
myself how she did it. As a result, I came across food dispensers which you can
operate yourself, plus you save on unnecessary packing. That’s when I thought:
“Well, that’s great. I want to do that as well!” I have dealt with it
intensively and even quit my Job. Since then, I only concentrate on the shop.
What job
did you have before?
I worked as a project manager for a big logistics corporation.
Then it
means that you are rather experienced in launching projects.
Yes, indeed. But this time, the project is mine.
(laughter)
Bea Johnson
was often referred to.
Exactly. She has brought the Zero-Waste movement into
being. She has written a book and is keeping a blog where she writes about it
on how you can live with less waste.
How did you
come across Bea Johnson?
I have stumbled across her name in a French online
paper that I read. She is a French woman living in the US and that’s why the
French press covers her frequently. Since 2006 or 2008 she is living completely
without waste.
Zero-Waste initiator: Bea Johnson
Since when
do you live in Germany?
I live in Germany since 2003 and in Kiel since 2009.
And since
when do you live package-free?
Since I’ve opened the store, that’s roughly two and a
half years. Package-free – yes; but not entirely waste-free. But we are on the
right track.
You
differentiate between plastic free, waste-free and package-free.
Yes it’s all about not producing waste. There are
different concepts, like plastic-free lifestyles, or in combination with
package-free ones – both can be still seen distinctly. For one you can say that
everything must be plastic-free, or just one-way-package-free, or waste-free.
Waste-free is not the same as plastic-free.
Does
waste-free mean recycling to you? As in reusing, or composting?
Exactly. Plastic-free is a lifestyle choice, where you
reject all plastic products in your house. That’s tough enough already. It’s
very hard, but there are loads of blogs and books on plastic-free living. We
are primarily concerned with having an actual waste-free lifestyle.
Do you get
your deliveries package-free?
No, that’s not working. But, I get 25kg bags full of
grains for example, or products like spices in kilo packages which already are
huge amounts.
Are these
packages made of plastic?
Very few. Though we still have a few plastic packages,
depending on the article, the requirements for transport, or food regulations
etc.
Talking
about your assortment – do you miss any products?
Actually, I do miss fresh meat and fresh fish in this
shop. But that’s it. I still can go to the butcher or a fish shop.
There are
certain foods that seem to be always packaged in plastic. Do you have curd?
Yes, we’ve got some in jars. You find them rarely. We
have a local supplier of milk products who sells his products in jars or
bottles. Sometimes they even come in paperboard – but they are coated.
How is
business?
It’s going nicely, people like it. This is the third
year already and we constantly get more customers. Such a store needs a certain
amount of time to start running, but now, in the third year – which is a vital
point for start-ups – I’d say that we have become established.
Marie Delaperriére in her "Unverpackt"-Store in Kiel
What kind
of customers you get, and how many are coming?
Averagely, 70-90 customers come per day. The customers
are mixed: there is no particular group of people. Everything from families to
students, children to seniors, barefoot walking individuals to suits. We are
not addressing a particular clientele, it’s an every man’s shop.
Do you have
a sense of achievement?
Above all, I am happy that this idea/concept is
spreading. The store in Kiel is the first of its kind in Germany. By now there
are more than 20 of these stores that are about to open. Also, the whole
movement is becoming more confident and all that information and awareness
that’s spreading on sustainable lifestyles and consumption – all of that gave a
push to this movement.
We have
read that you will hold a seminar for people who want to open such shops
themselves. How many will attend?
Last year I’ve started these workshops and we roughly
had 100 participants of which 10 opened a store.
Does that
mean you show them how to operate such a store?
Exactly. We examine everything from the idea to
business matters. I show it in form of workshops here in this store, or I just
consult them.
Something
you want to say to those who don’t have any access to these kind of grocery
shops?
Even without package-free stores it’s possible to
reduce waste. You simply change your consumer behaviour and what you do in the
kitchen. If you do it step-by-step, it’s easy. Back then I was getting angry
about me always buying grated cheese in plastic bags, because I thought: That’s
insane! Simply buy non-sliced cheese, take a grater, grate it whenever
necessary, plus it’s always fresh. It’s a simple thought, plain common sense.
But for years I used to buy grated cheese in plastic bags reflexively. You just
have to take a look around: Instead of paper rolls, you just need cloth – so
you won’t have waste. With these as
examples, peu-á-peu you are getting started to get through life with less
waste.
Thank you!
This interview was conducted in
German on 17th May, 2016 in Kiel, Germany by Sophie Weise and Temur
Mehr.