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Want to cut plastic from your shopping without cutting style? Here’s how to make an impression at the farmers’ market or the zero-waste store, with the most beautiful accessories for plastic-free living.
By Barbara Hämmerl
A single shopping trip usually leaves a mountain of packaging in the bin — but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Zero-waste stores are gaining popularity, plenty of organic grocers now let you shop package-free at the deli counter, and farmers’ markets have always sold fruit and vegetables loose. Even the organic bakery on the corner is happy to fill your own cup with coffee and hand your bread across the counter unwrapped. So it’s time to round up the most beautiful accessories — entirely plastic-free, of course — for the weekly shop. Jute sacks are so last season.
KPM Berlin’s Coffee-to-Go Cup, With a Side of Species Protection
Coffee to go, or maybe a turmeric chai latte to go? Either way — just not in a dreary styrofoam cup.
Germany throws away 7.6 million single-use plastic cups every day, each used for roughly fifteen minutes before it’s discarded. KPM Berlin offers a prettier, more sustainable alternative with its porcelain to-go cup in the classic KURLAND design from 1790 — handcrafted in Berlin. It’s an elegant companion for a quick coffee run to your neighborhood organic bakery. The leather sleeve guards against heat and gives the cup real character, while the fully sealed lid ensures spill-free transport and keeps unwanted flavors out.
The cup comes in a range of colors and finishes, including a designer edition and, for something truly one-of-a-kind, a hand-painted, personalizable piece. Our favorite, though, is the Wild Bees edition. To support the work of its two master painters, KPM Berlin launched an exclusive hand-painted edition of the to-go cup in spring 2020. Created in partnership with “Deutschland summt!” (“Germany Is Buzzing!”), an initiative of the Foundation for Man and Environment, the manufactory hopes to raise awareness of biodiversity. Buying the edition supports the cause directly: €20 from every KPM Wild Bees to-go cup sold goes toward species conservation.
Price of the Wild Bees to-go cup: €199.00
The Eshly Deli Box, Turned From Ash Wood
The Eshly Deli Box is a stackable food container turned from solid ash wood — completely plastic-free. It’s a genuine natural product, free of chemical additives and plasticisers.
Eshly works much like a Japanese bento box. It’s finished with an eco-friendly oil and stands up well to moisture. The box is light, thin-walled, yet sturdy and opaque — exactly what you want for everyday plastic-free shopping. A closure strap keeps everything neatly secured on the way home.
The box is treated with food-safe, transparent oil and, per DIN 53-160, is resistant to saliva and sweat. The oil itself is tested to DIN-EN 71, Part 3, meaning it’s approved for use on toys.
The closure strap is sold separately and made from organic cotton and sustainably produced natural rubber. It’s manufactured in Germany and dyed with non-toxic plant-based colors. Every box is made from German ash wood and produced domestically.
The Eshly Box won the German Design Award in 2016.
Price: €50.00
Wheat Straw Storage Containers From Avoid Waste
Stylish, resource-friendly, and kind to the planet. The wheat straw storage containers from Avoid Waste are a wonderful addition to any pantry. They’re lightweight, stackable, airtight, and leak-proof — and entirely plastic-free.
Wheat straw is a byproduct of agriculture. Once wheat is harvested, the leftover straw can be used as bedding for livestock or processed into other products. The material stands out for being both sturdy and lightweight, which makes it ideal for plastic-free shopping when you don’t want to lug around anything heavy.
These versatile, stackable containers come in three sizes (1,650 ml, 800 ml, and 500 ml), and are dishwasher-safe (without the lid) and microwave-safe (avoid the highest setting).
Price: from approx. €8.00
Naturtasche Bags
For carrying dry goods like bread or pasta, the food-safe, GOTS-certified organic cotton bags from Naturtasche are the obvious choice. These clean, understated bags can be washed at 60°C and release no microplastics in the wash. They’re made under fair working conditions by a German-Czech family business in Bohemia. Prices start at €3.50, depending on size.
A Stylish Woven Basket Instead of a Plastic Bag
Who still wants to be caught carrying a bag from the supermarket these days? The more sustainable, more stylish alternative for getting your shopping home isn’t a jute sack — it’s a handwoven willow basket, like those from Korbmacherei Weidenkorb in Angermünde, or a woven bag made from palm leaf fiber, like Globo’s (available at Avocadostore), or paper, from the brand Uashmama.
The Tosca Bag Intrecciata by Uashmama
This bag from Uashmama is woven from washable paper, with an organic cotton lining. It’s roomy enough for a full trip to the zero-waste store, and its zippered inner pocket keeps your keys and wallet safely tucked away.
Price: €210.00
