Marketing Monday Marketing & nutrition inspired thought to start the week

~ Bring-Your-Own-Packaging Retail ~

10/02/2025

Marketing Monday ---- Bring-Your-Own-Packaging Retail
Bring-Your-Own-Packaging: A Retail Revolution?
A bold concept in theory—great for the planet, but is it also great for people?
In practice, it presents real challenges—not just for profitability but also for consumer adoption.

Enter Puur & Loos in Utrecht: now in its second year of pioneering a retail model where customers bring their own packaging for groceries. Given my passion for food and marketing—and the fact that I live in Utrecht—this was a must-visit for me.
And after experiencing it firsthand, I'm a fan—Here's why:

The Benefits—Why This Concept Works

🫙 It puts 'consuminderen' (consume less) into action

  • Less pre-processed food = more mindful purchasing and active awareness
  • Fewer product choices per category = reduced food waste (you eat what you buy).

🫙 It fosters deeper consumer engagement with food

  • Increased involvement in grocery shopping leads to healthier, more intentional food habits
  • Awareness shifts from passive consumption to active participation

🫙 It's practical and doable for consumers

  • The store is in its second year, proving the model has viability
  • My own experience (n=1) confirms it: I've been reusing plastic bags, cheese wrappers, egg cartons and glass jars for years—it's entirely feasible!

The Challenges—Why It's Not an Easy Win

🫙 Scale and profitability are major hurdles

  • Achieving sufficient sales volume from scratch is tough, with fewes SKU's within product categories and fewer categories overall, it is not (yet) a one-stop-shop
  • Investors, to accelerate, are wary—there are no successful precedents for this model

🫙 Consumer habits favor convenience over conscious choices

  • Traditional retail and food services have conditioned consumers to expect ease and variety, it requires more effort to do the grocery shopping
  • This model demands active participation, which narrows the target audience to a niche segment. How to attract the mass market is yet to be uncovered

How Can This Concept Succeed?

A strategic approach is key, one way to enhance adoption is by applying the Means-End-Chain Model (Gutman) to understand consumer motivations. Aligning product benefits with deeper values—like sustainability, health, and self-sufficiency—can help expand the customer base and drive long-term success.

This isn't just a retail experiment; it's a shift in consumer mindset. And while challenges remain, the potential impact on sustainability, food waste, and conscious consumption is undeniable.

🫙 Would you be willing to bring your own packaging for groceries?

🫙 How do you think we could attract the mass market to incorporate this into their grocery routines?


--- This post aims to start your week with a marketing & nutrition inspired thought

---- Mutrition aims to make your food business healthier

----- Let me help to tackle your market challenges

------ https://www.mutrition.nl/blog-marketing-monday/

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