Eco-Point Initiative for Bulk Sales

Type of practice Reduce

Name of practice Eco-Point Initiative for Bulk Sales

Name of main actor CRAI supermarkets, Italy

Type of actor(s) Company

Location Italy

Stage of implementation Packaging

Year of implementation 2005

What was/is being done? Eco-Point is a project born from the collaboration of Crai supermarkets and an NGO called Planet Life Economy Foundation. Eco-Points offer everyday products, such as pasta, rice, cereals, legumes, nuts, coffee, spices and sweets, in a bulk format through direct dispensers. CRAI intends to reduce packaging waste while at the same time offering low cost products. The benefits of the system include: buying only the amount necessary; savings for the consumer between 10% and 70% compared to the price of packaged products; and significantly lower packaging waste.

Outcomes and impacts The 37 Eco-Points in Italy and Switzerland prevent the use of about 1.2 million packages per year. In the village of Oulx for example, 2.700 kg of product has been sold in bulk, saving around 12.300 packages since the opening of an Eco-Point in 2005.