Key:zero_waste
 zero_waste
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For shops that sell goods without single-use packaging, e.g. with "bring your own container" and/or with container deposit. 
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| Status: in use |
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zero_waste=* is a key for shops or other selling points that largely do without single-use packaging material. One or more of these strategies are possible (oftentimes multiple of these are used within the same shop):
- Customers may be expected to bring suitable containers, bags, etc. with them. Reusable containers may also be sold on site.
- A container-deposit system can be used: pay a surplus upon purchase, which is refunded when the container is returned so it can be reused. Whether things that have to be recycled (like plastic bottles, instead of readily reusable containers like glass jars) count as "zero-waste", is not universally agreed upon.
Examples are convenience stores (with vegetables, other food, and household goods); so-called "milk stations" (milk vending machines on farms); and zero-waste market halls.
A counterexample is a supermarket where you can buy vegetables in your own bag. If it's not the largest part of the wares, the shop should not get zero_waste=yes.
How to map?
Map the POI as normal (with e.g. shop=convenience, shop=grocery, amenity=marketplace or amenity=vending_machine).
Add zero_waste=*.
Values
- zero_waste=yes - if the shop largely sells goods without single-use packaging.
- zero_waste=only - if the shop only sells goods without single-use packaging.
Usefulness
The trend to largely do without garbage is spreading in the buying habits of more and more people. But in many areas such shops are not typical, and at least some people may prefer them for ecological reasons.
See also
- bulk_purchase=* - Here the goods can be "poured in" with quantities of the customer's request via so-called bulk bins (transparent large containers). The packaging is provided, or must be brought along. The difference in weight (product minus packaging) is paid by the buyer. Most zero-waste retail stores can be marked with this tag.
- organic=* because such shops often also sell organic products.
- For wholesale use wholesale=*.
- reusable_packaging=* - Specifies if reusable packaging are expected to be used.
In discussion
The tagging was discussed:
- on the German forum: [1]
- on the French forum: [2], later moved to:
- on the English-language forum: [3]
Note that in a typical supermarket you can buy vegetables in your own bag. It's not useful to tag such shop as zero_waste=yes, especially when it is not even encouraged or welcomed. Such shops used to match zero_waste=yes as previously defined. On the other hand "if the shop sells goods only without packing" seems extremely strict. This appears to have been resolved by clarifying the shop should be "largely" zero-waste.