REWE is now trialling innovative unpackaged stations for rice, pasta and cereals, among other things. The digital, particularly user-friendly and hygienic stations offer customers the opportunity to shop sustainably using containers they have brought with them or containers that can be borrowed with a deposit.

Another advantage for customers lies in the individualised portioning of the goods, as they can measure out the exact amount of each product they need. This is because all REWE organic products that are now also offered unpackaged have been popular and established product ranges in REWE stores for years. The test, which is limited to six months per store, is intended to test customer acceptance, feasibility in the store and the economic viability of further expansion of the stations.

And this is how it works: customers can either borrow reusable cups (deposit €1.50, capacity 500ml) or reusable bowls (€2.50, 1.2l) from the Unverpackt station or use their own unbreakable container. If you bring your own container, it is first weighed and the weight determined is confirmed via an integrated screen so that users only pay for the filled product. If a provided "Einfach Mehrweg" container is used, filling can begin immediately without the so-called tare measurement, as the respective tare weight of the reusable container is stored in the station.

The container then only needs to be pressed against the dispenser to fill the product previously selected on the integrated screen. The screen displays the estimated quantity and price of the product during filling. The final weight and exact price are displayed as soon as the container is placed on the scales integrated into the station. Finally, the station prints the price label, which the customer affixes to the container. To continue shopping at the unpacked station, simply click on the "Fill more products" button. During the entire process, users are guided step by step via text and images on the screen.

At the checkout, the unpackaged goods are billed using the label - including the deposit amount when using a "Einfach Mehrweg" container. These containers can then be returned via the reverse vending machines at all REWE stores and other system partners. The "Einfach Mehrweg" containers, which have been awarded the "Blue Angel" and the ECR Award, are part of an open reusable system, which promotes efficient cycles.

In addition, the unpackaged stations close another reusable cycle and thus differ from the usual unpackaged systems on the market. This is because the loose products are also packed in handy reusable large containers. These are filled by the respective REWE organic product manufacturer and delivered to the stores. There, the large containers are simply hung in the stations - this also avoids the need to decant goods in the store. Once the large containers are empty, they are returned to the manufacturer after cleaning and are labelled with a new batch and updated labelling. The cooperation partner for the unpackaged stations is the start-up MIWA from the Czech Republic.

Promoting unpackaged concepts and reusable alternatives is a central pillar of REWE Group's packaging strategy. Against this backdrop, the test of an unpackaged station that closes reusable cycles is a logical step towards the ambitious goal of doubling the range of unpackaged products or products offered in reusable containers in the stores by the end of 2025 compared to 2021.

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