Bring your own package? A new kind of shopping comes to Slovakia Read more The popular zero-waste lifestyle, which aims to create as little waste as possible, has supporters in Slovakia. Zero-waste shops are spreading throughout the country and a new one has opened in Bratislava.
The package-free shop U Vážky (Dragonfly’s) is open at the Fresh Market. It was created by Slovaks who have been thinking about change for a long time. They had planned to open the shop sooner, but the actual shape of the idea came about in summer of 2018, Startitup wrote.
“These days do not allow us to make products on our own and that’s why we bring them from the small producers who use traditional production methods even today,” said the team behind the shop, as quoted by Startitup.
They overcame various obstacles when starting the business. The biggest was ensuring the food was locally produced. Undergoing long discussions with suppliers about supplies in bulk also posed a challenge. U Vážky has had a positive experience with commercial partners, who after being inspired by their concept, started to develop a new ecological package and tailor-made assortment.
DIY
They opined that the concept of ecological shopping is not only about package-free sale, but being inspired to adopt an ecological lifestyle with a friendly attitude towards nature, soil and health.
“We are sure that there are more and more people thinking like this in Bratislava,” the team wrote on the Startitup website.
At the shop, it is possible to make peanut, almond, hazelnut or cashew butter, with two choices every week.
Visitors can grind their own flour from the 13 varieties of legumes and nuts on offer.
