UNVERPACKT - at Karlsruhe Central Station since 2016

Shopping without packaging? What sounds almost impossible for many to master is child's play with UNVERPACKT at Karlsruhe's main train station and has been bringing a completely new shopping experience to the fan-shaped city since 2016. The store's concept is called "precycling instead of recycling", with the aim of doing away with plastic as much as possible and avoiding unnecessary packaging. Customers bring their own containers, can purchase them on site or use them on a donation basis and then fill them themselves at UNVERPACKT.

Sustainable shopping experience at UNVERPACKT in Karlsruhe

Antonia Wucknitz's UNVERPACKT has been located directly opposite Karlsruhe Central Station since May 2016 and has been pursuing its concept for almost nine years now: avoiding packaging waste, shopping according to need and using raw materials and food responsibly: "Visitors bring their own containers and can fill them with open food. Of course, we also have jars that can be purchased on site or containers that have been donated to us if you come in spontaneously," explains the owner. But how does a typical visit to UNVERPACKT work? First, the tare scales are used to determine the weight of the container. This is then written on the container, whether Tupperware or glass. And then nothing stands in the way of shopping! You can then fill the food yourself or with the help of employees. You don't have to do without anything, as the food range includes a large selection:

• 14 different types of flour
• Muesli
• Rice and side dishes - from couscous to quinoa
• 20 different types of pasta
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Sugar and salt
• Fruit spreads
• Confectionery - gummy bears, cookies & chocolate
• Tea
• Coffee
• Vinegar & oil

and much more. "Over the years, our range has of course changed time and again. We have taken some things out of the range, while others have increased enormously. In 2016, for example, we started with six types of pasta and now we have 20 different varieties here at UNVERPACKT," reveals Antonia.

Everything for household, school and beauty - UNVERPACKT and handmade in Karlsruhe

UNVERPACKT is also well positioned in the non-food sector: Here, for example, you can also buy cleaning products and matching accessories, such as a sewn soap pouch. Books, stationery and home-made school utensils such as pencil cases and exercise book covers have also been added. "All handmade items are sewn by a lady from Grötzingen herself - the special thing about this is that all proceeds go directly to a social project in Tanzania (Friends of education of Tanzania), which supports a school there," explains Wucknitz. 

The "non-food area" also includes various bamboo products, such as toothbrush cases, toothbrushes and hairbrushes, washable kitchen towels and reusable make-up remover pads.

Organic vegetables from the POIS farm store in the UNVERPACKT store in Karlsruhe

UNVERPACKT's extensive food range is rounded off by a large selection of vegetables from the POIS farm store. "POIS collects vegetables and fruit from small farmers in Portugal and brings them to various collection points near us. The farmers are paid fairly and the produce is organic," adds Antonia. "We are very happy about our collaborations that have developed over the years. For example, we also make sure that we work closely with UNVERPACKT in Pforzheim, the Weltladen or Foodcoop here in Karlsruhe and thus avoid food waste and double transportation routes," explains Wucknitz.

At UNVERPACKT, it quickly becomes clear that environmentally conscious and sustainable shopping is easier than you think. And whether you're a pro at shopping without packaging or just starting out, Antonia and her team are the perfect people to talk to and offer advice and support. Our tip: pop in - with or without packaging - and get to know UNVERPACKT at the main station and let Antonia Wucknitz and her team advise you.

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