Haarlem’s first zero waste shop has just opened: oodles and pinches is now located at Generaal Cronjéstraat 96.
photo credit: Helga Beuving
oodles and pinches was previously located in one of the containers inside the BakkeRij building with a small showroom, but has now moved into a storefront on the well-known shopping street in Haarlem-Noord. Owner Inge Echterhölter wants to help people adopt a more sustainable lifestyle through her zero-waste shop.
Haarlem residents who want to contribute to the fight against plastic pollution and live as eco-friendly as possible can now shop to their heart’s content for zero-waste products at oodles and pinches. Think plastic-free deodorant, wooden toothbrushes, shampoo bars, and reusable makeup remover pads.
A display in the store will show how much plastic has been saved each month by using zero-waste products. Visitors can also get advice and information on living more sustainably.
Crowdfunding
Initially, only non-food products will be available in the store, but Inge hopes to add package-free food items soon. The idea is that customers bring their own glass jars, Tupperware containers, or cotton bags to (re)fill in the store with items like rice, pasta, beans, lentils, or oats. This way, no (plastic) packaging is needed, which helps the environment.
photo credit: Helga Beuving
To offer food products in this way, large glass ‘gravity bins’ are needed. These are dispensers used to store the food. It’s a costly investment that Inge cannot finance on her own. That’s why she has started a crowdfunding campaign, hoping for the support of Haarlem locals and other eco-conscious supporters. A total of €20,000 is needed, which will be entirely used to purchase the required gravity bins. Those who want to help can donate an amount of their choice via our crowdfunding.
25 million tons of plastic per year
Each year, European residents generate a total of 25 million tons of plastic waste. Less than 30% of that is collected for recycling. Worldwide, plastic makes up 85% of all beach litter. At the current rate, the ocean is expected to contain 1 ton of plastic for every 3 tons of fish by 2025. By 2050, the weight of plastic floating in the ocean will even exceed the total weight of fish. To counter this severe environmental pollution, more and more initiatives are emerging to reduce plastic use.
German trend
Inge is originally from Germany, where zero-waste shopping has been a major trend for some time. In nearly all large German cities, ‘packaging-free’ stores can now be found. The Netherlands is still catching up, but in recent years more and more so-called ‘bulk stores’ have been appearing in Dutch cities, where customers can refill their own jars and containers. With the arrival of oodles and pinches, Haarlem can now officially be added to that list.
About oodles and pinches
oodles and pinches started three years ago as a webshop offering zero-waste products. Before Inge and her family moved to the Netherlands, they lived for many years in Oregon, USA, where they had a ‘bulk store’ nearby. That’s when Inge decided to live more consciously and avoid plastic use as much as possible. With oodles and pinches, she hopes to help others build a more eco-friendly lifestyle by offering information and zero-waste products.
Would you like more information or are you interested in interviewing Inge (in English) for an article? Then contact us via the chat button in the lower right corner.
