Unpackaged, Hackney

JournalShopping

Success is in the Bag

Thinking outside the box sees package-free retailer expand...

Way, way back when (not quite an age, but definitely at least one yonk ago) we brought you news of Unpackaged, a London store whose simple but brilliant premise was to sell their products – health foods and the like – without providing any packaging. The customers bring their own boxes and bags and in this way a small dent is made in the megatons of crap we are are chucking into landfills every minute.

Such a great idea was destined to take off, and we’re pleased to tell you that Unpackaged has opened a second, larger outlet in Hackney, designed by the same firm – Multistorey – who decked out the first shop. This time half the premises is a café-bar, although you can still buy your groceries there in the same package-free way as the original, and as you’d expect from the company ethos; the design is clean and lean with due care and attention paid to the eco-friendliness of the materials. The interior can also be cleared out with minimal fuss for the occasional events that will be held in the 160 sqm space. A laudable success – just don’t forget your Tupperware if you want to take some organic carrots home.

* Unpackaged is permanently closed.

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Photography, Joe Clark