Smart shopping:
how to shop more sustainably

The no. 1 truth in environmental protection: small changes can make a big difference. It starts with the purchase – privately at home and within our company.

Not only intending, but also doing – this is what we at WEPA like to exemplify when it comes to environmental protection. We start at the purchasing stage and consistently use recycled fibre and pulp from certified forestry.

However, everyday shopping can be a step towards more sustainability for each of us. After all – both what and how we buy can benefit the environment (and us, personally) enormously.

• Take your own carrier bag or basket with you when you go shopping, so you won’t need plastic bags. 
• Dispose of plastic properly. Plastics can be recycled, but they must be disposed of correctly.
• For fruit and vegetables, lightweight nets are sold in supermarkets. Some supermarkets allow customers to have their own containers filled at the meat or cheese counter, it’s worth asking.

At WEPA, we also take care to make our packaging as environmentally friendly as possible! All of our packaging is 100% recyclable!

• Buy the refill instead of a new pack, be it detergent or hand washing lotion. This saves raw materials and waste. 
• The greater the distance covered by e.g. fruit, vegetables and meat to get to the supermarket, the worse the result for our planet’s climate. This can be solved by buying these products regionally and seasonally. Strawberries and asparagus in early summer, berries, beans and tomatoes in summer, apples in autumn, cabbage in winter: all of these do not require long transport routes. (And what’s better than anticipating the next strawberry season?) 
• Stocking up! Dry staples like pasta or rice last nearly forever. When it comes to those, buying large quantities is not only cheaper, it also means there is proportionally less packaging waste. Seasonal vegetables can be preserved by pickling, canning or freezing, meaning they can be enjoyed all throughout the year. Honestly – don’t these products also look way prettier when stored in beautiful containers and jars? 
• Reusable instead of single-use: drinks or yoghurt are often available in returnable jars or bottles. This means that you need a small collection spot in your household, but you do make a contribution to environmental protection. Also, coffee to go tastes much better from your own mug. 
• Watch out for the label “microplastic-free” on cosmetics. After all, microplastics end up in water, on fields and meadows and finally in the internal organs of animals and humans. 
• Tap water in Germany is of excellent quality, costs less than bottled water and comes out of the tap instead of a plastic bottle. Those who like it sparkling can purchase a soda maker – the CO2 cylinders of these systems are reusable, by the way. 
• Buying realistically, storing properly , avoiding waste. In Germany, more than 80 kilos of food per capita end up as waste. Apps like “Zu gut für die Tonne” (“Too good for the bin”) provide recipes for leftovers and tips for shopping and storage. In terms of retail, initiatives like “Too good to go” ensure that food can be saved and reaches consumers – it’s as simple as downloading the app. 
• Not every task requires a car: smaller shopping runs can be taken care of on foot or by bicycle. This may take a little more time, but it is better for your fitness and also for the environment.