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Bring your own containers: Bulk stores promote less-waste lifestyle
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Bulk products are kept in glass jars at the Saruga package-free store in Bintaro, South Jakarta. Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers, with prices per gram written in chalk. (JP/Maria Michelle Angela)
T
he worldwide rise in environmental consciousness has been accompanied by increased awareness of the importance of reducing waste at the household level, prompting an ever growing number of bulk stores to encourage customers to bring their own containers to carry the items they purchase.
There are currently seven bulk stores in Greater Jakarta: The Bulkstore & Co. in Menteng, Central Jakarta; Naked Inc. in Kemang, SELAMA in East Tebet and Saruga in Bintaro, South Jakarta; Farmers 99 Market in Gading Serpong, Tangerang, Banten, and Kembangan, West Jakarta; and Lulu Hypermart Store in Cakung, North Jakarta.
Saruga coowners Adi Asmawan and Ridah Zaki said their goal in opening a bulk store was to raise awareness regarding single-use waste and its effects on daily life.
“We want to break the cycle that generates excessive plastic waste,” Ridah said. “Sixty percent of waste [in Jakarta] comes from households, and we want to change that by introducing this type of store.”
This change in lifestyle starts from the store’s own employees.
“We’re reducing plastics step by step. And then when we need home supplies like spices, soaps and so on, we bring our containers and shop here,” said Syadella Fauza Ramadhina, an employee at Saruga.
Syadella and her twin sister and coworker at Saruga, Syadilla Aliza Ramadhina, both try to promote the lifestyle to their parents, which is not always easy.
