Month: August 2023

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PIETER POT: ZERO WASTE SUPERMARKET

Sustainability must be attractive and that’s what Pieter Pot is aiming for. This Dutch online supermarket offers over 500 products, everything packed in sturdy glass. You order in the app and it gets delivered at your doorstep. I quickly became interested. Read why!

delivery of Pieter Pot food

COOL PRODUCTS IN BEAUTIFUL GLASS JARS

Some supermarket chains have installed refill machines, usually stockey with nuts and grains. This is too much effort for many people. The company states:

If we want to make a real impact, sustainability must also be attractive. Like Tesla makes sustainable cars sexy. Just like Tony’s Chocolonely slave-free chocolate is really tasty. This is how Pieter Pot makes packaging-free shopping easy. Hi groceries. Bye packaging!

Tesla might make sustainable cars sexy, but they are super expensive, so I think this is a bad comparison. Pieter Pot asks a fair price for their goods and delivery. What I particularly like about the company is that it has many products that are usually only available in single-use plastic, cardboard or metal packaging. For example hagelslag (Dutch chocolate sprinkles), pasta and small peppermints. Also their jars are beautiful and they can be stacked in rows, very handy for my small kitchen.

Example of peppermint

PIETER POT & CO2 FOOTPRINT

Together with the Knowledge Institute for Sustainable Packaging, Pieter Pot calculated the CO2 footprint of their entire circular service. They take into account the production, all transport and cleaning of the pots. Hereby the goal is that each pot can be reused at least 40 times. 

According to Pieter Pot, every household in the Netherlands throws away about 3,300 plastic packagings every year. That’s a crazy amount! They claim to have saved 5.302.838 plackagings since they started operating. 

Delivering one reusable jar emits less CO2 than delivering a pack of muesli (+20% CO2), a plastic bottle of ketchup (+157% CO2) and a disposable jar of mayonnaise (+ 32% CO2). I did not do a fact check on this but you can download the research here (in Dutch).

THE FUTURE OF PIETER POT

Are there no disadvantages? Sure there are. It requires planning and storage space. For each jar and large (wine) bottle you pay €2 deposit. For the bags they charge €3.50 per order. You need to keep the empty jars, bottles and bags until the next pickup. Also  ordering through an app instead of just going to the store is not preferable for everyone. In that case going to a bulk store can be a good alternative.

I really hope Pieter Pot can keep up with competition. Unfortunately the company is financially unstable. Last month, the company called on its customers to put a financial credit on their user account. The action has so far yielded more than four tons, so let’s hope they will succeed!

15 EURO DISCOUNT FOR NEW CUSTOMERS 

Pieter Pot operates in the Netherlands and in Belgium. Curious? New customers immediately receive €15 free shopping credit. 

plastic waste

UPDATE JAN’24: PIETER POT WILL START AGAIN

Pieter Pot has officially declared bankruptcy on December 14th. The company will re-establish itself, after a successful crowdfunding campaign. 

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WHERE ARE THE MOST PUBLIC FOUNTAINS?

Even though it’s raining in most parts of Europe, it is crucial to stay hydrated, particularly when exploring new cities during our travels. However, finding a refreshing sip of water without breaking the bank can be quite challenging in certain places, as highlighted by this study. Using data from OpenStreetMap, it reveals the number of public water fountains per 100K in every country and city in the world. We’re excited to share today’s guest blog by Touseef Hussain, Marketing & Communications Officer at QS Supplies. Be prepared for cool infographics!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS

Public water fountains hold significant importance for the health and well-being of communities. These fountains provide easy access to clean drinking water, preventing dehydration in public spaces. Additionally, they offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to purchasing bottled beverages, reducing plastic waste and our environmental impact.

Maintained properly and equipped with filtered water, these fountains also play a crucial role in minimising the risk of waterborne illnesses, contributing to a healthier and more hygienic public environment.

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH AND LOW NUMBERS OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS

If you are in Montenegro, you need not worry about staying hydrated. This Balkan state takes the crown for having the highest number of water fountains per person in the world. It boasts 472.4 drinking fountains per 100,000 people.

The abundance of public watering holes is a big plus for tourists visiting the country’s scenic destinations, especially during the scorching summer days. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C in inland regions like Podgorica.

Nigeria and Fiji face challenges in providing public water fountains. Nigeria registers an alarmingly low number of 0.01 drinking fountains per 100,000 people. Fiji has no recorded public water fountains.

GLOBAL CITIES WITH PLENTY OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS

Switzerland, known for its focus on public utilities and expert urban planning, leads the list of cities with the most water fountains. Zurich and Basel, with 221 and 177 fountains per 100,000 people respectively, secure the top spots. Geneva also makes an appearance in the top 10, with 86.22 water fountains per 100K people.

list of cities with most public drinking fountains

PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE UK

So what about the UK? For travellers in Bournemouth, located on the south coast of England, staying hydrated is easy thanks to the city’s high proportion of public water fountains in the UK

Leeds lags way behind; it has less than one fountain per 100,000 people in the city.

UK cities list of drinking water fountains

PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE USA

Oregon emerges as the US state with the highest number of water fountains per 100,000 people. It has 14.77 water fountains per 100k people in the USA, while Tennessee has the fewest (just 0.21).

Moving to the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, boasts an impressive 24.83 water fountains per 100,000 people. That’s the highest figure from any US city.

Las Vegas presents a rather disheartening scenario. With only 0.62 water fountains per 100,000 people, it’s the US city with the lowest supply of free sources for drinking water.

And it’s something that annoys the tourists. Sin City often charges exorbitant prices for basic necessities like water. In some establishments, you’ll have to pay as much as $12 for a bottle. A bottle from a Starbucks on the Las Vegas Strip is $5.

ABOUT OUR GUEST BLOGGER

This is a guest blog by Touseef Hussain, Marketing & Communications Officer at QS Supplies, one of the UK’s largest independent bathroom wholesalers and retailers. They have been in business in Leicester since 1990. The team also shares original research studies on various relevant topics.

We like to give a big thanks to Touseef. Some of our own experiences match with the findings in his study, like Refill Paradise Switzerland. Brazil on the other hand scores really low, something that RefilMe Brasil is trying to change. We need more people advocating for public drinking fountains.

Do you want to become a guest writer for our platform? Please read our guidelines.

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