The Alnatura supermarket chain is expanding its reusable range. Among other things, red lentils, basmati rice, sugar and ketchup will now be sold in returnable jars. Each jar can be reused up to 50 times.
An initial test in spring was apparently satisfactory. In April, various nuts, nut butters, teas and muesli in returnable jars were added to the range for the first time. According to the company, these were very well received by customers. From mid-July, 16 more items will follow, including products with the Fairtrade seal. The Pfandwerk brand, which is exclusively available at Alnatura, includes red lentils, basmati rice and raw cane sugar, as well as liquid products such as passata and ketchup.
Yoghurt jars are used
This makes Alnatura the first chain-based retailer to offer a wide range of different foods in returnable jars. The reusable deposit jars are standard yoghurt jars or milk bottles that can be easily reintegrated into a regional deposit cycle when returned. Each jar can therefore be reused up to 50 times.
„The reusable cycles for juice, water, beer, milk and yoghurt have proven their worth. If we now offer more organic products in returnable jars, new cycles will be created and the ecologically sensible reusable system will be expanded due to increasing demand. For us, this is an innovative and important step towards reducing packaging waste.“
Isabell Kuhl, Alnatura packaging expert
More Mehrweh alternatives to follow
Alnatura wants to continuously expand its range with reusable alternatives. Further milk substitute drinks, coffee and other types of tea are already planned in reusable jars.
