Brief description of the organisation/initiative
Wezero is an online shop that provides a wide range of products from personal care, to home as well as food products. The team has simplified the return of packaging so that the path to zero waste is affordable and lighter. Wezero equals no plastic at home; compostable or returnable containers.
Challenge overview
The idea for wezero was born at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, after years of buying in bulk from physical stores. The founder of wezero’s conclusion was simple, if we don’t simplify zero waste shopping, this way of consuming will never be adopted by the majority. This is how, Barbara Chaplain launched wezero in May 2021 as a simplified way of online shopping.
Establishment of the organisation/initiative/enterprise
Years ago, Barbara, the founder of wezero, learned about the disastrous environmental consequences of plastic. Society’s current way of consuming is not at all sustainable and, despite the visible progress, especially in Barcelona, Barbara felt that the change was not happening fast enough.
On a personal level, Barbara follows the values of sustainability, meaning reuse as much as possible, reject things you don’t need, travel less by plane. Barbara’s philosophy, and what she wants to convey with wezero, is that it is better for 200,000 people to reduce their plastic consumption by 50%, than for 200 people to completely eliminate it from their lives.
Management structure and governance
Wezero is formed of a passionate team, but, above all, one that listens. It is difficult to change people’s lifestyle, so the important thing is to start and not stop along the way. One change after another, continuously. Thus, after a while, to be able to look back and say: “I have come a long way!” The journey towards zero waste is long, and wezero’s team is here to accompany its consumers on it.
Wezero is managed by Barbara Chaplain who is the founder and the CEO, together with her in the team are Eva, a social network and communications specialist, and Julia, responsible for marketing and development.
Principles of work, objectives and activities
The principles behind wezero are simple, with the dream of simplifying life without plastic and sustainability. wezero’s mission is simple: To make zero waste shopping easy and affordable so that it becomes the normal way of consuming. The team behind wezero believes that the only way to increase zero waste consumption is to make it easy. At wezero, zero waste is more than a minimum requirement, it is a goal to be aspired to.
Wezero is using returnable packaging and kraft paper. The returnable packaging are jars of different sizes, where one pays a small deposit and when returning them, wezero will refund the money. The kraft papers are the express solution, products are wrapped in unbleached kraft paper. It provides recyclable, simple, ecological and low waste.
Target groups
Wezero has a diverse range of eco products made for sustainable and ecologically awakened consumers.
Innovation
The innovation of wezero is based on the idea of online shopping and an at-home returnable packaging service. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly putting the e-commerce strategies of retailers into sharper focus, which has already led to new approaches and strategies, consumer behaviour has been steadily shifting to encompass more digital activity for some time. Additionally, wezero provides free shipping of products over 25 EUR and a sustainable delivery cost €3.70 for orders less than 25 EUR. Another innovative element is the return system, the customer won’t have to worry about taking their jars to the stores, transferring products from kraft paper to jars at home (only if you want to), or having to clean the containers.
Key partners
Wezero works in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona and is a member of the BCN + sostenible network.
Impact and Evaluation
The positive impact of the good practice can be measured in terms of the service provided. The consumer can choose between a kraft container or a returnable jar. If the consumer chooses a returnable container, a small deposit is charged for the containers (between €0.30 and €0.70 per container). Once the order is placed, the delivery happens. Deliveries are always green and fast. The consumer can choose the delivery address, be it at home or another place, such as the office, as long as it is in Barcelona city and the client is there to pick up the order.
On the next delivery, wezero takes back the returnable packaging in the bag from the previous order (the bag must also be returned). Another option for consumers is to start with biodegradable kraft paper containers, so they won’t have to return the containers and can simply reuse or throw the kraft bag in the organic or paper container.
Once the returnable containers are in the warehouse, wezero adds to the customer’s account the value of the containers in the form of a credit, serving as a discount on the next order. Wezero cleans the containers with strict cleaning processes and reuses them. In this way, it becomes a cycle!
Recommendations
The best practices can be transferred in other countries and contexts. Consuming sustainably does not have to involve more effort and organisation. The practice can be replicated in other e-commerce businesses where zero plastic is the main pillar of work and ethics. If zero waste is a more difficult solution to adopt, there is always an option of low waste or little waste to be adopted in order to create sustainability.
Lessons Learned
Even good and humble ideas can live a short life. Unfortunately, wezero has stopped working permanently, 25 May 2022 was the last day of sales. Wezero stopped for various reasons: both strategic reasons and personal ones from the founder.
References
Wezero platform.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.