Logo of the Information System for Agriculture and Food Research

Information System for Agriculture and Food Research

Information platform of the Federal and State Governments

The supermarket without packaging: Current state and perspectives. About opportunities and limitations of precycling in food retailing

Project


Project code: 2814NA025
Contract period: 01.05.2016 - 30.04.2018
Budget: 265,541 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research

The packaging free supermarket is a current trend in Germany and Europe. Different variations of this innovative type of food retail already exist in Germany. On the one hand some shops consistently follow the 'packaging-free' principle ('concept stores') while some organic grocery stores offer a portion of their products 'packaging-free' on the other hand service providers offer so called 'Bulk Bins' i.e. bins for the presentation and the individual portioning of the groceries. While it is the standard in other countries to offer packaging free products in food retail the 'packaging-free' principle is only slowly gaining attention in Germany. In the most recent past a strong increase in concept stores has been noticed. While there were only around five such stores nationwide one year ago, we now assume that there are around 20 stores in Germany. These concept stores are characterised by their claim to avoid consumption-related waste while at the same time enabling consumers need-based consumption which is reducing food waste. What those pioneer enterprises further have in common is that they are managed by the owners, have developed individual business models and are trying to establish themselves as alternative models to the common food retail. The aim of the project is to investigate, survey and analyse the concepts that have been established in Germany and the variations of this new form of retail in a qualitative study and examine them with regard to the desired goals of saving ressources, avoidance of packaging/waste, reduction of food waste and further implications of sustainable consumption. The central assumption of the project is that packaging free shopping demands a radical paradigm shift which requires profound changes along the entire value chain. In order to be able to identify learning effects and to make them available the established alternative models need to be (1) structurally analysed. Afterwards (2) the advantages and disadvantages regarding the adressed goal as well as the existing problems/inhibiting factors for the realisation of the principle will be critically and systematically examined so as to reveal potential for optimisation. In addition to that (3) it will have to be examined which role the 'packaging-free' principle plays/could play in common food retail and what the bareers and starting points for a further diffusion are.

show more show less

Subjects

Advanced Search