Consultancy firm Eunomia is launching research into the growth of packaging free shops in Europe in collaboration with two European organisations.
Packaging free shops are seen as becoming more popular with the public as awareness of plastic pollution problems grows. Eunomia, which has its head office in the UK, will carry out the work alongside Zero Waste Europe and Réseau Vrac from France to develop an overview of the state of packaging free shops across Europe.
The study aims to map historical growth in the sector and assess the potential for further growth in the future and is to consider the economic, social and environmental benefits that the growth in packaging free stores brings to their surrounding areas.
The study could influence European Commission thinking on packaging free shops and potential support measures
The research is to be used to help argue with “European authorities” – which is expected to include the European Commission – for the introduction of measures to help support shops which use less or no packaging.
The first step in the research will be to identify the number of shops open in Europe and the length of time they have been open for. Later the products sold, packaging alternatives used and number of customers will be assessed.
Bulk sales
Célia Rennesson is cofounder and managing director at non-profit Réseau Vrac, who represent French organisations selling products in bulk.
Commenting on the upcoming research, she said: “Understanding who are packaging free shops and what are their impacts on society is key to bring awareness and provoke support from national and European institutions.
“Réseau Vrac federates more than 1,200 packaging free/bulk economic players (producers, suppliers, distributors) in France and Europe and acts to remove legal barriers to packaging free/bulk development in order to offer a more responsible and sustainable consumption to citizens.”
Eunomia and its partners will also be looking at barriers to the success of packaging free shops, considering both UK and EU policy.
European packaging free shops have been approached to be involved in the research and asked to fill out an online survey. Shops which have not yet been contacted can request a survey from Zero Waste Europe.
Throw-away culture
Larissa Copello, consumption and production campaigner at Zero Waste Europe, said the emergence of packaging free shops is“a spark of hope” which shows the potential for moving away from a throw-away culture.
She added: “Zero Waste Europe sees this research as key to revealing the benefits of such a business model, identifying the threats and highlighting the opportunities to enable packaging free shops to become the new norm!”
More broadly, this tripartite collaboration, explained Zero Waste Europe, will make it possible to consolidate the “credibility of the bulk and promote the value chain at the European level” and thus to dialogue with European authorities for the development of the sector throughout Europe.
Related links
Reseau Vrac, France
Zero Waste Europe
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Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
