Zero-Waste movement in Switzerland
Small shops with a big impact Reading Time: 5 Min. Publication: October 30, 2025, Jessy Thür The principle of “zero waste” – living without waste or with as little waste as possible – has become noticeably more important in Switzerland recently. The association Unverpackt Schweiz , which was founded in 2019, sees its task as raising awareness of sustainable shopping options and connecting stores that offer products without single-use packaging. Why unpackaged? Our everyday consumption habits generate enormous amounts of waste. According to the Federal Office for the Environment , each person in Switzerland produces around 700 kilograms of household waste per year—one of the highest figures in Europe. Packaging, especially plastic packaging, accounts for a large proportion of this. This is where zero-waste stores come in: they offer food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies that customers fill into containers they bring with...