5 tips for a packaging-free and sustainable shopping experience

Especially at the beginning of the year, many of us resolve to make our lives more sustainable. One aspect that affects us all in our daily lives is shopping and the associated food packaging. I'm delighted that Franzi from the blog " Franzi Schädel " is sharing five easy-to-implement tips today that make sustainable and packaging-free shopping possible. Under the hashtag #verpackungsfreierJanuar (packaging-free January), this powerhouse has also launched a challenge that everyone can still join. How does it work? Read on ;-)

Hello, my dears,

I am Franzi from the blog “ Franzi Schädel ” and I have been involved with sustainable living for some time now, not just since the name change (very recently on 01.01.2018).

The topic has been on the blog for a while now, but with the new image, I want to make it even more prominent, so I kicked off January with my #packagingfreeJanuary challenge. You can participate via Instagram, your blogs, Facebook, or just on your own. No pressure, no tasks. We'll simply explore together what's possible and where the problems lie, and above all, ask ourselves the question: "Where does it actually make sense to do without packaging?"

I can give you a first answer right away. Avoiding packaging makes sense, for the most part, when shopping. Fruits and vegetables come with their own packaging; putting all these wonderful things into the plastic bags offered in the supermarket makes no sense.

To make unpackaged shopping a little easier for you, I've brought you five tips for more conscious and plastic-free shopping today.

Tip No. 1 – Start planning again -

Yes, I too am sometimes one of those people who always go shopping very spontaneously, and who always end up with a little too much in their cart, but I'm working on changing that!

I'm consciously writing down again what I really need, what I'd like to cook, or what I'd like to eat, and I'm trying to avoid impulse buys. Because let's be honest, there's almost always some food in our pantries, and in most cases, we wouldn't actually need to go out at all.

Tip No. 2 – Get yourself some vegetable nets and food wraps -

If you have reusable produce bags and food wraps in your bag, you'll never have to resort to plastic bags again. A real blessing! And it almost goes without saying that a jute bag should always be in your luggage, right?

Tip No. 3 – Find out where you can shop without packaging -

Leaving aside fruit, vegetables, and bread, there are many foods that you can't just buy unpackaged. Even if there isn't a zero-waste shop nearby, sometimes you're lucky enough to find many foods unpackaged in small organic shops. It's definitely worth asking!

Tip No. 4 – Buy together -

Food items that can be bought in bulk do come in packaging, but often not in the same quantity as when buying them individually. Therefore, it makes sense to pool resources for things like rice, pasta, olive oil, tea, etc.

Tip No. 5 – Don't be too strict –

You can't buy everything unpackaged, nor is it possible in every region. So don't stress if it doesn't work out sometimes. The intention counts, every step counts, and simply being aware of the importance of more sustainable shopping is already so valuable! So, don't despair!

I wish you a wonderful shopping experience and would be delighted if you would participate in the #packagingfreeJanuary challenge! Become part of this undogmatic and wonderful movement!

All love,

Franzi

Since I love Franzi's challenge so much, I've come up with a little something special for you: In January, I'll give you a free bar of soap with every purchase of a soap dish. The soap dishes are brand new in the shop and were handmade in Munich. Because even in the bathroom, you can do without packaging :)