First Package-Free, Zero-Waste Grocery Store?
The city of Austin will soon be a part of something revolutionary in the grocery industry. The first package-free, zero-waste grocery store in the United States will debut in Austin, Texas at some point in 2011! Yes, you did read that correctly. in.gredients will be completely package-free and will have zero-waste! This sustainable food revolution will hopefully catch on quickly to other areas after it is successfully executed in Austin.
How does this work you ask? Basically all you have to do is show up to the supermarket with your clean containers from home (there will be biodegradable containers at in.gredients as well) and fill it up with your groceries. I know, this sounds crazy. But by “pre-cycling,” in.gredients is getting rid of the unnecessary food packaging that we are so accustomed to and quite frankly, we don’t really need it! Packaging makes up for 40% of all of the waste in municipal waste streams. At least 28 countries have laws designed to encourage packaging reduction. Unfortunately, the United States is not one of them. This of course leaves the responsibility of recycling, and pre-cycling, in the hands of the U.S. consumer.
in.gredients makes the promise to be as sustainable as possible. The food offered will be local and organic. And when it is not possible to have an organic item, in.gredients will ensure that the product is all-natural. in.gredients will not carry items that are out of season. Grocery shoppers are so used to being able to buy strawberries in November, or corn in February. Purchasing produce that is in season reduces your carbon footprint by reducing the travel distance from the farm to your dinner table.
To find out more about this grocery revolution, check out the in.gredients website. And follow them on Facebook and Twitter! If we all support this revolutionary idea, maybe someday it will become the norm to have a package-free supermarket.
