User:Jankibirla/sandbox

= Live Zero (Hong Kong) =

Live Zero, founded by Tamsin Thornburrow, was Hong Kong's first zero-waste bulk store that sells products ranging from food, to beauty, to home & living. This store has 3 locations, one at 33 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, another at 33 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, and the last one at 36 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley.

In the zero waste community buying “bulk” means purchasing products like flours, nuts, grains, spices, etc. package-free and out of a large container at a store. These bulk stores have utensils like scoops, tongs or spoons to help customers transfer products from store bins into their own reusable bag or container. If a store offers bulk liquids, like shampoo or maple syrup, they may be dispensed out of a large jug with a pump or a container with a spigot at the bottom. Essentially the bulk store is buying the large volume of product and the customers get to take as little or as much as they need.

There are many benefits to buying bulk products:


 * Customers are able to buy only what they need which cuts down on wasted food and money: Since shoppers can weigh out the exact quantity of ingredients they need, they aren’t obligated to buy predetermined portions of food which may be partly thrown out. This also means that you are only paying for what you really need, and therefore saving money from the set prices in grocery shops.
 * Customers are able to test out a variety of healthier food items without committing to a large volume of product: Zero waste shops supply wholesome, often locally sourced ingredients to create healthier dishes from ourselves.
 * Shopping this way creates little to no packaging waste: Products aren’t sold individually wrapped; and so all of the excess cardboard and plastic that would usually be thrown out is instead swapped for either our own repurposed containers or else glass jars and paper bags available in the shop.

History and Public Reception
The store was opened in 2017 with the first store opening in Sai Ying Pun. Subsequently as popularity and demand grew, the Sai Kung store opened, followed by the Happy Valley store. The store initially opened as a single store with just grains, pastas, and herbs & spices being offered in large wooden barrels for people to measure into their own containers. Shortly after that, Thornburrow launched a separate store, Live Zero Bulk Beauty, selling organic and plastic-free beauty products, from essential oils to unrefined cocoa butters. Since its opening in 2017, Live Zero has gained popularity among the environmentally conscious community in Hong Kong. The store has been featured in various media outlets, and its founder, Tamsin Thornburrow, has been recognized for her efforts to reduce waste in Hong Kong. On Facebook, Live Zero's page has been given a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, measured by reviews from customers online. Furthermore, their Instagram page has gained a large following of 18.3K followers within the few years of its operations. Customers overall have been praising their stores and product offerings, with comments such as "Great concept with a variety of products", and "Had a delightful shopping experience - so grateful to be able to avoid food waste by buying the quantities I need, and to not create any un-recyclable waste. Thank you to the owners for having the courage to try this in Hong Kong!".

How It Works
Customers enter the store, and bring their own containers (or use glass jars at the front of the store). They are first required to weigh each container, so that once they add the items inside it, the total value of items added is the total weight subtract the container weight. Each barrel of grains or powders have a scoop inside, which customers are able to use to put whichever item inside their jar.

Products Offered
Live Zero provides a wide range of natural, and organic brands, free from packaging. From pantry staples like oats, flour, legumes, herbs & spices, to household, personal hygiene products like hair wash, body wash, laundry and multipurpose cleaning. Below is a list of all items they provide :


 * Dried Fruits 乾果


 * Nuts/Seeds and more 果仁/種子和更多
 * Beans/Legumes 豆類
 * Baking/Flours 烘焙/麵粉
 * Grains 穀物
 * Oats/Cereals 麥片/穀物類
 * Pasta 意粉類
 * Superfood Powders 超級食物粉
 * Herbs/Spices/Seasonings 香草/香料/調味料
 * Butters 堅果醬
 * Coffee Beans 咖啡豆
 * Loose Leaf and Floral Teas 散裝茶葉及花茶
 * Snacks 小食
 * Sweets 糖果
 * Chocolate 朱古力
 * Cooking Oils 食用油

Local Competitors
Along with Live Zero, there have been several other zero waste bulk food stores in Hong Kong, including Slowood, Beyond Plastic, Lively Life, Seed and Vomfass. With more awareness and action towards an environmentally friendly city, Hong Kong has implemented various policies regarding the climate, with one of them being Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+, established in 2017, which targets a 65-70% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 from 2005 levels.