Trends

Sustainable shopping: Unpacked keeps growing

The number of unpackaged stores has risen sharply in many countries in recent years. According to a study by the European Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), there were already around 10,000 unpackaged stores worldwide in 2022. Around 4,000 of them in Europe, 3,000 in the USA and 2,000 in China. Unpackaged is therefore on trend - here is a look at the market potential.
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Food, body care & co.

Sustainable shopping, zero waste, unpackaged - whatever the buzzword, saving packaging is a hot topic these days. Confectionery, rice, pasta, flour, nuts, muesli, coffee, vinegar, oil, but also personal care, detergents and cleaning products and much more: the unpackaged principle, where shoppers fill loose or liquid goods themselves into containers or deposit containers they have brought with them, works for a wide range of products - including non-food products, such as small ice cream ranges in DIY stores.

Comeback of the unpackaged trend

The unpackaged market is growing. No wonder, because the advantages of the principle are great, whether in specialized stores or in unpackaged stations in supermarkets.

Environmental benefits
  • No resource-intensive production of packaging
  • Less packaging waste
  • Fewer emissions thanks to lower transport volumes
Consumer benefits 
  • Desire for sustainable shopping options is fulfilled
  • Shoppers only pay for the quantity they actually want
  • Less food waste by purchasing the right amount for your needs
Dealer benefits
  • Improved image through sustainability
  • Tap into new customer groups who buy unpackaged out of conviction
  • Savings in storage space and simplified goods management thanks to large containers
Great potential for unpackaged

The willingness to buy unpackaged goods is generally high - what stops many people from doing so is the lack of shopping options. The good news is that modern technology solutions are now on the market that allow retailers to turn the unpackaged principle into a convenient, intuitive shopping experience. It is therefore much easier for retailers to get started with unpackaged today than it was a few years ago.

Convenient, intuitive shopping experience

Unpackaged concepts work with deposit containers provided or containers brought along. Shoppers weigh the empty container and stick on the label with the tare weight. After filling, the code is scanned, the full container is weighed and labeled - and then it's off to the checkout. 

Complete technology from a single source

Manufacturers such as Bizerba offer complete technological solutions for zero waste shopping: self-service scales with label printing, retail apps and the matching labels - which can be removed without leaving any residue so that the containers are easy to clean. The complete system can be networked and integrated into existing merchandise management systems.

Sustainable investment

Digital services such as predictive maintenance and remote support reduce downtime to a minimum. And, while we're on the subject of sustainability: Premium hardware is a sustainable, future-proof investment thanks to its longevity and modular customization and expansion options.  

Conclusion

The unpackaged market potential is high. Many consumers would like to buy unpackaged food - if there were nearby shopping facilities. This opens up new sales opportunities for retailers. The unpackaged principle has long since outgrown the concept stage. There are providers of fully networked solutions that retailers can use to create intuitive, convenient customer experiences. They can use them to win over the often affluent, environmentally conscious consumers as a new, loyal target group.

Let’s count

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Unpackaged stores in China
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Unpackaged stores in the USA
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Unpackaged stores in the Europe
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Unpackaged stores worldwide
Source: European Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), 2022
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