Comments on: Refills: A Sustainable Solution http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/2009/04/refills-a-sustainable-solution/ Notice the Tao Effects... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:30:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Greg Slepak http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/2009/04/refills-a-sustainable-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-1715 Greg Slepak Tue, 11 May 2010 22:18:19 +0000 http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/?p=468#comment-1715 That's really cool Adrienne, I'm thrilled that you're interested in the idea. I'll give you a call soon to chat about this (or you can call me if you still have my number). That’s really cool Adrienne, I’m thrilled that you’re interested in the idea. I’ll give you a call soon to chat about this (or you can call me if you still have my number).

]]> By: Adrienne http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/2009/04/refills-a-sustainable-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 Adrienne Tue, 11 May 2010 21:09:21 +0000 http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/?p=468#comment-1714 I read this post almost a year ago, and since then it's been changing my life. (I really can't express this sentiment without sounding hyperbolic, but I'm being completely sincere). I kept coming back to this idea- refill- long after I read your post. It's so simple and so obvious. But as I've gradually changed to a refill lifestyle, I've realized that in practice, refilling is neither of those things. Many times it's downright impossible, and often completely beyond my control as a consumer. Then, a month ago, I had a manic bout of motivation, in which I suddenly felt like I should start the store you are talking about. In doing some online research, I was actually shocked to find that no one out there is even discussing this on a holistic scale. This was the only commercial enterprise I could find that is embracing this philosophy comprehensively: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/21/londons-unpackaged-grocery-shop-eliminates-wasteful-packaging/ Sure, there are bulk foods bins now popping up in grocery stores (Ward's and the new Publix in Gainesville), but no store, it seems, is even thinking of trying to sell all of its products this way. Certainly not stores that the average consumer shops in. Right now, this refill kind of behavior and thinking are relegated to a small, liberal elite, and the products and companies that embrace even the mildest of sincere sustainable practices are only catering to this specific clientele. It's esoteric, unfamiliar, and worst of all, unaffordable for most people. If we want the world to go green, we have to make green practices available to the world. We live in a convenience culture, where convenience drives consumer demand for cheap, portable and disposable packaging, which results in the omnipresence of these products. This culture has created a feedback-loop in the consumer cycle, where convenience of consumption and convenience of availability constantly reinforce each other, to the extent that there is no longer an alternative. If we want to realistically break this polluting packaging cycle, we have to make the alternative convenient. In fact, we have to make it not only as convenient as packaged consumption, we also have to provide incentives for this behavior that are more obvious and more direct than abstract and indirect benefits that people see for the environment- we have to make it cheaper. And actually, if you think about it, it already is. Buying something in bulk almost always dramatically slashes the unit price. Why? Because when you buy smaller amounts you're paying more for the convenience of paying less. As the ratio of packaging to product shrinks, the profit margin also shrinks, and therefore must be bolstered with an increased unit price. The poorest people consistently pay some of the highest unit prices, because of their severely limited purchase power. This in itself creates its own feedback loop, reinforcing their poverty. But a refill store could eliminate this cycle, simply by buying the raw products in massive bulk, at the absolute cheapest unit price, (and the absolute cheapest distribution cost to the producer) and reselling them to the customers at a flat unit price markup, so people can buy as much or as little as they want of anything for the same price, without being penalized if they can't afford a lot at any one time. It will discourage waste, because people won't be coaxed into buying more than they need of perishable goods. This idea goes against the core of how consumer goods are marketed and sold, but I think it could actually work, because when anything sells the best in this country, it's because it's a dollar cheaper. I bought a domain name for a website to promote my/your idea. I don't know how to make websites, and if you're interested, I could sure use some help.... I read this post almost a year ago, and since then it’s been changing my life. (I really can’t express this sentiment without sounding hyperbolic, but I’m being completely sincere). I kept coming back to this idea- refill- long after I read your post. It’s so simple and so obvious. But as I’ve gradually changed to a refill lifestyle, I’ve realized that in practice, refilling is neither of those things. Many times it’s downright impossible, and often completely beyond my control as a consumer. Then, a month ago, I had a manic bout of motivation, in which I suddenly felt like I should start the store you are talking about. In doing some online research, I was actually shocked to find that no one out there is even discussing this on a holistic scale. This was the only commercial enterprise I could find that is embracing this philosophy comprehensively: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/21/londons-unpackaged-grocery-shop-eliminates-wasteful-packaging/
Sure, there are bulk foods bins now popping up in grocery stores (Ward’s and the new Publix in Gainesville), but no store, it seems, is even thinking of trying to sell all of its products this way. Certainly not stores that the average consumer shops in. Right now, this refill kind of behavior and thinking are relegated to a small, liberal elite, and the products and companies that embrace even the mildest of sincere sustainable practices are only catering to this specific clientele. It’s esoteric, unfamiliar, and worst of all, unaffordable for most people. If we want the world to go green, we have to make green practices available to the world. We live in a convenience culture, where convenience drives consumer demand for cheap, portable and disposable packaging, which results in the omnipresence of these products. This culture has created a feedback-loop in the consumer cycle, where convenience of consumption and convenience of availability constantly reinforce each other, to the extent that there is no longer an alternative. If we want to realistically break this polluting packaging cycle, we have to make the alternative convenient. In fact, we have to make it not only as convenient as packaged consumption, we also have to provide incentives for this behavior that are more obvious and more direct than abstract and indirect benefits that people see for the environment- we have to make it cheaper. And actually, if you think about it, it already is. Buying something in bulk almost always dramatically slashes the unit price. Why? Because when you buy smaller amounts you’re paying more for the convenience of paying less. As the ratio of packaging to product shrinks, the profit margin also shrinks, and therefore must be bolstered with an increased unit price. The poorest people consistently pay some of the highest unit prices, because of their severely limited purchase power. This in itself creates its own feedback loop, reinforcing their poverty. But a refill store could eliminate this cycle, simply by buying the raw products in massive bulk, at the absolute cheapest unit price, (and the absolute cheapest distribution cost to the producer) and reselling them to the customers at a flat unit price markup, so people can buy as much or as little as they want of anything for the same price, without being penalized if they can’t afford a lot at any one time. It will discourage waste, because people won’t be coaxed into buying more than they need of perishable goods. This idea goes against the core of how consumer goods are marketed and sold, but I think it could actually work, because when anything sells the best in this country, it’s because it’s a dollar cheaper. I bought a domain name for a website to promote my/your idea. I don’t know how to make websites, and if you’re interested, I could sure use some help….

]]> By: Greg Slepak http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/2009/04/refills-a-sustainable-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-188 Greg Slepak Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:40:41 +0000 http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/?p=468#comment-188 Thanks Rob! It probably won't happen anytime soon unfortunately though, simply because it would require a significant change to the infrastructure of the entire system. Just looking at how long it's taking them to go from gas to electric cars is a great example, where the move is from gas stations to electrical outlets. :-\ Thanks Rob! It probably won’t happen anytime soon unfortunately though, simply because it would require a significant change to the infrastructure of the entire system. Just looking at how long it’s taking them to go from gas to electric cars is a great example, where the move is from gas stations to electrical outlets. :-\

]]> By: rob wilke http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/2009/04/refills-a-sustainable-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-168 rob wilke Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:49:02 +0000 http://www.taoeffect.com/blog/?p=468#comment-168 great blog again, i like how you think... maybe this down economy will get people thinking and/or doing that way, as sad as it is, I think the only motivator for the masses is money, so if RBPs are cheaper than the alternative, then the new day is born. great blog again, i like how you think…

maybe this down economy will get people thinking and/or doing that way, as sad as it is, I think the only motivator for the masses is money, so if RBPs are cheaper than the alternative, then the new day is born.

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