Are Waitrose Making a Packaging-Free Future Accessible?

Our local Waitrose store has been closed for the past week for renovations, and it reopened today so I went in to take a look. The signs that had been covering up the work they were doing told us to be excited for a new 'meat counter', so for obvious reasons I wasn't really that excited, but I thought I'd have a peep anyway. 

Turns out they had added a whole new waste reduction section at the front of the store!

They had so many things I don't even know where to begin. Nearest the door was an example of what the loose food dispensers, and shelves of boxes and bags for you to put the loose food in if you haven't brought your own containers with you. 

They had also moved their coffee machine here, and they had some reusable cups for sale nearby. I've heard people stay in other stores they'd stop providing disposable cups all together which is great!

There was lots of fresh and frozen produce too. It was so refreshing to see fresh fruit and vegetables not completely wrapped up in plastic! As well as their purchasable reusable grocery bags they also had ones that looked like plastic but were actually biodegradable for the frozen fruit.

There was also an entire row of dried food, which you put in your own containers, weigh, and pay for what you've taken. There was pasta, seeds, quinoa, dried fruit, rice, lentils and more. I haven't had a chance to use it myself yet but it looks like such a quick and simple idea - no extra packaging and you only buy what you need!

Further into the shop there were a few more sections. One side had beer and wine on tap so you can fill up your own bottles with exactly how much and what you want. There was also a few different coffee bean dispensers for your perfect coffee!

Overall, this seems like a great start into making 'zero waste' (or at least reduced waste!) living more accessible to everyone. There's still a long way to go - the produce itself isn't cheap, and having to buy all of the containers if you don't already have them means the costs at the start of doing this can be quite pricey. However, even if people make small swaps and give it a go sometimes, it's got to make a positive difference to the planet :)