Shopping for fresh products, sustainably and without plastic packaging: Since September 2018, real customers have had the opportunity to pack food in their own reusable containers at the fresh food counters in selected real stores.
Reusable concept all along the line
"Freshness without packaging" is the name of the concept with which real is making an important contribution to Avoiding plastic waste is achieved. In addition to the option of using reusable containers at the service counters, reusable nets have been introduced for the fruit and vegetable department in recent months.
From August 2019 the reusable concept is now being extended to Germany. This means that customers can in almost all markets Have sausage, cheese and meat products packed in their own containers.
In addition, in the real Markt stores where hot drinks are on offer, there is the option to pack them in drinks you have brought with you. Reusable cup to fill.
"Sustainability is an attitude for real. This also includes avoiding plastic waste as far as possible when it comes to packaging materials. Our decision to enable the use of reusable containers at the service counters was therefore an obvious one."
Patrick Müller-Sarmiento, real CEO
Hygienic measures
To minimise hygiene risks legal requirements To avoid this completely, a simple but highly effective procedure has been introduced: The customer places their reusable container open on a Separate tray that serves as a hygiene barrier.
If the container appears to be clean, the employee takes the tray over the counter, balances the weight of the tray and container and places the goods inside. The can is labelled with the scale receipt and the employee hands the order back to the customer on the tray over the counter.
The customer's container is thereby at no time come into contact with the counter. As a further measure, the containers may not be passed on within the various fresh food counters. In addition, foodstuffs that may affect each other may only be filled into a reusable container at the express request of the customer.
Plastic reduction is at the centre of "Frische unverpackt"
"Avoiding plastic waste is an important issue that affects us all. We are therefore delighted to have now received the green light from the authorities. This has already enabled 90% of the markets implement the concept. This is a great success for our "Fresh unpackaged" concept!"
Dr Kerstin KunzHead of Quality Management at real
Another important component of "Freshness without packaging" is the avoidance of plastic waste in the fruit and vegetable department. real was the first company in the food retail sector to decide on this back in February 2019, plastic bags completely by the end of 2020n.
In addition, real offers various plastic-free packaging alternatives: Customers already have the option, Washable reusable nets to be used. In addition, the packaging for the real BIO own brand is produced using FSC-certified Paper and cardboard packagingn, which recyclable are.
Organic cucumbers even come completely without plastic film. Ginger, mango and sweet potatoes from organic cultivation are also produced Laser label is used to distinguish organic goods from conventionally grown products.
"Sustainability and the avoidance of plastic packaging are playing an increasingly important role for our customers. The elimination of plastic bags from 2020 onwards means that real Save 70 million plastic bags a yearwhich corresponds to around 140 tonnes of plastic.
In addition, as part of our corporate strategy 'Acting responsibly', we are constantly working to find even more sustainable and resource-saving solutions. Our goal is to Switch the entire product range to sustainably produced products by 2030."
Patrick Müller-Sarmiento, real CEO
Source: real GmbH
