Dresden's last unpacked shop: a farewell full of challenges!

Dresden's last unpacked shop: a farewell full of challenges!

The future of packaging -free shopping in Dresden is on the brink. Berit Heller, the 56-year-old operator of the last remaining unpacked shop "Lose", decided to give up her shop at the beginning of this year. Since the opening in 2015, Heller has been offering its customers the opportunity to fill products in their own containers. But now Heller has difficulty finding a successor because the last prospect jumped. The uncertainty is reinforced by its health problems, Crest syndrome, requires special consideration. The search for a suitable successor for the company is intensified, and even cooperative models could be considered to continue the shop. sächsische.de reports that a farewell party "Farewell, Ms. Lose ”is planned, the shop should close.

The unpacked shop "Lose" is not only in need. In recent times, three similar shops in Dresden have closed the doors. Corona pandemic has changed shopping behavior sustainably; During the crisis, up to 100 customers came earlier every day, meanwhile there are only around 30. Difficult conditions for everyone who works in the area of ​​sustainable retail. Deutschlandfunk Kultur reports that 14 unpacked shops had to be closed in Germany in 2022 alone. It seems as if the Hessian of retail is not only due to the countless changes in recent years, but also the advent of online delivery services that compete with the concept of filling on site.

The meaning of unpacked shops

unpacked shops such as "loose" are not just retail companies; They stand for a movement that wants to reduce packaging waste and offer sustainable shopping alternatives. In Europe, tons of waste are produced annually, with Germany being at the top with more than 41 kilograms per capita. The idea of ​​packaging-free shopping was created in 2014 with the first unpacked shop in Kiel and has established itself in various cities since then. But the future of these shops remains in the balance. There are currently fewer and fewer unpacked stores in Germany-in 2024 there were only 235 compared to 285 in 2023. Statista states that the trust of the population is nevertheless strong in the future relevance of packaging-free shopping. 22% of the respondents have already bought it in a unpacked shop, while another third does not plan this.

The challenges in the unpacked industry are diverse. High energy costs and inflation are increasing retail, while at the same time awareness of sustainability is disappearing. A look beyond the Dresden borders shows that other unpacked stores such as the financial difficulties in the Halle Belviertel experience. Financial stability often seems to be dependent on the community support and customer loyalty.

currently the sale runs at "Lose", with products at half price. Heller still sees a community that gives support and hopes that a successor may still be found. Your approaches to create an association or a cooperative could be the key to continuing the legacy of "loose" and keeping the concept of packaging -free shopping in Dresden. The coming months will be crucial if the rental agreement expires by the end of January and may already be over in October.