Would you use an environmentally friendly, packaging free supermarket?
i.e. one where you brought in your old coffee jars, detergent bottles, egg boxes, washing powder boxes etc etc and had them filled up. It wouldn't sell everything, but most of what you need. If you had no container, it would be supplied in a paper bag, or in a container you could re-use next time. Products would be the same trusted brand names that are sold everywhere else, not cheaper, inferior versions.
Concerns about food in tamper-free containers would be addressed.
Please answer honestly as I'm opening this shop next year, and this is my paper-free, environmentally friendly market research! (Well, it's relatively green compared with mailshots, paper surveys etc..)
2007-02-24 22:43:18 · 11 answers · asked by amdby 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Investing
Yes of course, but you must bear in mind one problem: People would have to bring to the shop a lot of potentially bulky packaging - jars, boxes, containers. This could be problematic to those on the way from work, they would have to carry them to work first or go home to get etc. Hope you get the point; perhaps the answer is to go to the middle ground as well by 'offering' repeat use biodegradable packaging if needed, simple cardboard boxes, paper bags etc. The shop chain 'Scoop' (not sure if they still exist) sold all there goods from big plastic barrels, you 'scoope' out the amont you wanted ito a bag, they weighed it, you paid and went, packaging was cut by a least half compared with standard shops and Supermakets. So try a combination otherwise the all mprtant 'Convenience' issue will raise its head. Anything like this is good! We want the goods not the advertising package, today we give too much imprtance to the appearance at the expence of the quality of the product, with too little thought to the consequence of our actions! Go ahead - but take on board the issues I have mentioned - and the best of luck, if it works you will be out of business inside of three years bcause the Supermarket chains will take the idea and push you right out - sorry but you know what BIg Business is like!!
2007-02-24 23:06:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure how happy I'd be with bringing in old egg boxes or coffee jars to refill them. Detergent bottles would be fine because I'm not eating detergent. As far as food products go, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be. I am a big fan of bringing your own grocery bag to the supermarket like they do in Europe, however. You'd really have to not provide grcery bags at all in order to get people to realize that they have to bring their own, though, and people aren't going to be too happy to figure that out the first time.
2007-02-25 06:23:30 · answer #2 · answered by doctorquack12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a Chance.
What if I needed a few things on the way home from work and didn't have packaging with me
What would I want to drag around a bunch of empty containers while I do other shopping first.
Sounds great, But bulk stores have been tried before and all have gone out of business
2007-02-25 05:07:56 · answer #3 · answered by bob shark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't waste your time trying to be environmentally friendly. The evolution of the capitalist dictatorship in China and capitalism in India and much of the far east will negate by one hundred-fold, anything we do to limit carbon dioxide emission in the west. But if you want to use your tactics as a marketing advantage, you have an edge, because most of the population do not seem to realize that being green in the west is not going to impact on the limitation of global warming. So there.
2007-02-24 23:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by Piet Pompies 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I really dono't think it would fly here in maine , because of the state laws. exspecially with food. I probably would not. There are some places where they have chickens and you can get eggs cheaper. We have a huge recylcling program at the dump. And I know I should reuse my paper bags or clothes one's but I forget. so chance's would be I would forget cans and things I need, and I would for sure not use someone else's.
2007-02-24 22:48:56 · answer #5 · answered by Shelly t 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree packaging is awfully wasteful, but reusing old containers, especially if they're just whatever people bring from home, isn't sanitary - nor should you really be eating anything stored in a bottle of detergent, even if it's rinsed out...
2007-02-24 22:47:29 · answer #6 · answered by Goldom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes I would, but only if its done in a client friendly manner.
In Switzerland there is a machine in front of the supermarket were you can throw in any type of coin and it gives you an amount of milk, you have to bring your own device to put the milk in (bottle, can etc). It works perfect.
2007-02-27 23:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by fred 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brilliant! I definitly would, especially bearing in mind the Gov.s plans to fine for not recycling responsibly. All the Best for your Venture.
2007-02-24 22:47:16 · answer #8 · answered by Kate J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, YES I WOULD! and 3 of my x's would also go!
this sounds like a great idia i hope the profits and sales will be enuff 2 keep u going for a long time.
Nik
2007-02-24 22:48:18 · answer #9 · answered by fiffa2000au 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES I WOULD.
will U b in the UK?
i hope U expand & do well.
wish there were more responsible folks like U.
GOOD LUCK!
2007-02-24 22:47:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋