Case Study 2.0
SURVIVING A PANDEMIC WITH LESS PACKAGING
How does one business survive plastic-free goods during a pandemic?
Seedy Zero Waste Store is one of the few unique breed of package-free convenience stores available in Malaysia trading household and personal care products. Seedy is intrinsically a zero waste store for not only enabling the sustenance of one’s eco-conscious lifestyle, but also for literally generating close to zero waste.
Located in Kota Kemuning, Seedy differentiates itself with other corner stores or mini-markets in the area by offering products loose and without packaging. Its range of items include but are not limited to household cleaning agents, dry foods, daily hygiene essentials, kitchen utensils and skincare products.
Seedy has continued its efforts in its sustainable purchasing model and keeping to its packaging-free goods available in its physical stores. While the business continues to expand, Seedy recognises its importance to tap into the growing e-commerce market. In efforts to sustain the business during the pandemic, Seedy seized the opportunity to open their online store on Shopee.
Challenging as it was – to operate an online business while trying to keep to minimal packaging and waste, Seedy got creative and only packed goods where necessary, leaving the dry goods, such as toothbrushes to be packed with ZERO plastic while liquid-type products packed in reused plastic bottles. All recyclable packaging is used where possible such as egg cartons and newspaper instead of plastic bubble wraps. Their new motto: LOW WASTE DELIVERY.
Here is a quick view of alternative plastic packaging practised by Seedy Zero Waste store vs a typical store when you purchase online. Seedy has found a way to expand online while keeping minimal to zero plastic packaging.
| Plastic used in e-commerce purchase | Typical e-commerce store | Zero Waste e-commerce store |
| Sticky Tape | Yes | No Alternative: water-activated paper tape / glue |
| Bubble Wrap | Yes | No Alternative: paper / egg carton |
| Plastic Courier Bag | Yes | No Alternative: carton boxes |
| Styrofoam | Yes | No Alternative: carton boxes |
When asked whether looking for packaging alternatives like reused packaging is challenging, Seedy responded that they have a community of people who understands that giving doesn’t just come from Seedy. Though Seedy operates a business of selling goods, the give-and-take system can also switch to the other side where their customers would often offer their ‘waste’, like rubber bands, cookie containers, and glass jars, to Seedy to reuse and repurpose. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure anyway!
Seedy’s reused, worn packaging may repel the average online customer – to avoid this, Seedy makes sure to communicate with each and everyone of their customers on their business model and why it’s important that they don’t use new packaging that is only depleting the Earth’s resources. When customers are concerned with the look of the packaging or are sending as gifts, Seedy is thoughtful in keeping nicer cartons or gift boxes for these occasions.
Though reluctant at first – to set up an online shop and do delivery as the logistics will contribute to carbon footprint and delivery packaging will result in waste, it was necessary for their business and their customers who refused to buy from conventional online stores that do not recognise the issues of wasteful packaging. Seedy is disrupting the e-commerce plastic pollution and providing alternatives to inspire other businesses to implement the same LOW WASTE DELIVERY model.
