Germany: dm trials refill stations to combat packaging waste

At selected dm stores across Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony, customers now have the chance to refill their own containers with a range of popular dmBio products.

This pilot project by dmBio aims to test an unpackaged system, offering customers the opportunity to participate in filling stations. The expansion of these stations in dm stores will continue until March 15th.

The loose dmBio products are available for purchase without packaging at the usual low dm permanent price.

Customers can easily fill their containers with the desired quantity of products at these new stations, either using their own containers or deposit containers provided at the dmBio filling station.

Kerstin Erbe, dm managing director responsible for product management and sustainability, said: One of our goals at dm is to avoid packaging. Because any packaging material our customers don't take home doesn't have to be returned to the cycle. The easiest way to save on packaging is to offer our products unpackaged. The introduction of the dmBio filling station is therefore a logical next step with which we can gain experience in the 'unpackaged' area. “In this way, we are fulfilling our customers’ wishes and enabling them to have an individual and conscious shopping experience.