2022
Hi everyone!
We live in an ever-changing world – every Local Guide out there who is a regular editor of Maps knows how we get our local neighbourhood nicely up to date with missing places added, opening times all correct, closed businesses all removed . . . only to see that a couple of months later many business have closed, others have sprung up, opening times are different . . . So, time to edit again – it never ends!
But let's consider bigger and different change. In the last few years we've seen major shifts in human society and behaviour, such as social media influencing elections or making stars out of individuals; vegetarianism hitting the mainstream; single voices getting heard by millions because of a viral YouTube video.
Consumer habits: major shift time
This post is about a BIG change in consumer habits. I'm not talking about buying more things, or about bigger and cheaper shopping malls. No, this is a positive change, which is just in its early stages at the moment – the advent of package-free shopping. (Actually, I should write the return of package-free shopping, because up until the middle of the last century, almost everything came without packing, or at least it was ecologically wrapped.)
But, wait! Why bother with package-free shopping?
Folks, the last half a century has seen plastic madness descend upon us. It's insane. In fact, we're insane to have let it happen. The result is that we're now swimming in plastic (both metaphorically and literally), we're breathing it, it’s everywhere. Most of this plastic is single-use food packaging (bags, drinks bottles, straws, cups, etc.). OK, fine if it was all recycled, but it isn't. Most of it never gets used again, but enters rivers, oceans, the soil . . . even our food and the food of wildlife!
Fortunately, awareness of this huge environmental problem caused by packaging has increased greatly in the last two or three years. Many consumers are now rejecting over-packaged products, and small stores are opening, selling products loose, unwrapped – without packaging of any kind. I live in Prague, Czech Republic. Quite a few such zero-waste stores have now sprung up here. I use them whenever I can and I try to champion them.
What can we now buy package-free?
The shops I use sell a really wide range of groceries, from rice to beans, biscuits and bread, cooking oils, fruit and veg (seasonal), and some of them sell cleaning products and detergents. Most things are locally-sourced where possible.
Here are some pictures I've taken of products in my favourite stores:
Various nuts from the Farmers' Shop in Louny:
I am NOT a fan of liquid soap and shower gels in plastic bottles, so I was overjoyed to find soaps and (even more so) shampoo in bar form in the Bezobalu store in Prague.
How does it work?
Simple. You take your own bags, containers and bottles. Just make your shopping list in advance so you know how many bags to bring. Many things such as rice and cereals are sold by weight: you either give your bag to the shop assistant, saying what it is and how much you want, or the store is self-service and you fill your bags and containers from dispensers.
OK, so it takes a bit of discipline and organisation, but it becomes a habit, a lifestyle. The feeling of satisfaction can be immense. I love leaving a store knowing that I haven’t contributed excessive and unnecessary waste that could well choke our planet further.
The positive impact that we will see
These zero-waste stores are locally owned, start-ups we could say. They're small, but their aim is to change the big picture. And that, I’m sure, is what they’ll do eventually. The big chain supermarkets are doing very little to reduce single-use packaging, in my opinion. Their efforts are minimal, simply paying lip service to the issue when challenged. But the zero-package movement is growing, the small stores are doing more and more business. The chains will soon see profits hit, turnover decrease and of course they’ll finally have to wake up and take action. I see this as inevitable. But it needs time and it needs consumers to be strong-willed and determined. The movement is happening, but the issue is urgent and the faster we get to seriously reducing food packaging, the better.
Local Guides and everyone can help
As I mentioned, I use zero-waste stores whenever I can and of course I use my visibility and knowledge as a Local Guide to make sure they get quality photos on their Maps listings and appropriate reviews. I feel VERY strongly about the issue of unnecessary waste (you probably guessed that already!!) My two-fold support (using the shops and then spreading the word) is the least I can do.
So I encourage all Local Guides to consider how they can support positive change in consumerism. To start with, we can make sure all eco-friendly shops are listed and reviewed on Maps. And of course, we need to use these shops and tell others! The impact will be big!
I know from CL 2018 and from threads here that many LGs are out there flying the flag for eco issues. A shout out to @ErmesT , of course, for his Clean the World initiatives!!
Stores I use and/or know about
- Here’s my Google Maps list of package-free stores
- Two stores I regularly use are Bezobalu in Prague 6, and in Prague 2 their Belehradska store.
Has anyone made a similar list for their own area/country? Would be useful to know in advance of visiting a city or region.
Cheers, all.
Regards
Stuart
