RE:THINK THE WAY YOU SHOP
Diana Jess 

R3 brings the reality of “Green Design” and local waste management to the neighborhood supermarket. Despite technological advances, solid waste is an increasingly serious problem facing our communities. Utilizing sustainable building materials and reusable packaging, R3 turns the catch phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” into a working retail marketing plan aimed at involving the consumer in local waste reduction while supporting the urban economy.

The independently owned stores incorporate modern architecture with sustainable building materials while stressing refillable packaging as the key R3 concept. Interactive refill stations replace the customary clutter of single-use cardboard and plastic packaging. The consumer is offered a full line of goods in reusable packaging to be refilled in-store or in one-way packaging to be returned for recycling, in connection with a redemption value system for all packaging. What cannot be redeemed would be made of biodegradable materials.

The beautiful store architecture creates a genuine destination for shoppers while raising the attractiveness of the surrounding neighborhood and businesses. Initial investments for store owners are offset by savings on wholesale product cost and a competitive advantage in an increasingly environmentally conscious society. Consumers can continue enjoying trusted brand names while feeling virtuous about truly helping the environment.