Package Free in Seville

So I arrived to what would be my new home for the next three months We entered into our new apartment, I haven’t had the luxury of a stable environment for a while now so I was very excited. . But I also found myself in a moment of panic. My first thought was, where can I get package free washing liquid?! Sevilla is a beautiful, traditional city, and for this reason I had my doubts about finding a refill store. However it seems there is space here for package free shops and sustainable living. Though I still see many people buying plastic bottled water even though there are water fountains on every corner. For people living in the city it just doesn’t seem to be a priority to think about these things. Though we have to take responsibility now. The change of habit has to happen now within the people if anything is to be done about climate change. The fact that stores such as El Jarrillo Lata exist here is a very positive thing. I was extremely grateful.

In this store you are able to refill shampoos, washing liquids, buy natural products, toothpastes, reusable flasks, bottles, sanitary towels, moon cups, bamboo straws, I was in package free heaven.

There is also another store not too far from this one, which provides refills for all nuts, cereals, grains, beans, powders, spices etc. Nátural & Tha Alimentos ecológicos, para todas, las dietas.

But you don’t have to just visit this shop for refills, there are actually markets with sacks of rice, beans etc that you can just take your container and refill.

One of the first things I noticed and fell in love with about Seville (apart from the beautiful streets and buildings) was the number of local grocers selling fruit and veg without plastic packaging!

I have no problem to buy these things without packaging and its wonderful. The places of course offer plastic bags when you weigh up your shopping, this is why I always carry my backpack. But also there is the option that they can wrap your fruits/veggies in paper, if you buy something soft, like tomatoes for example this is a great option. I also somehow found this option much more heart warming and quaint. Maybe its the young kid in me remembering chippys wrapped in newspaper by the seaside.

Finally I will mention a store called ‘La Bien Plantá’ which also sells refill herbs, spices, chocolates AND teas!

Now I don’t say that I shop at these places all the time. But when I can I try to make the conscious choices, such as buying rice in the paper bag, or buying my olives, liquids etc in the glass jar and reusing the jar as a drinking glass in the home.

I have also been without a blender here so I have not been able to make my own milk, in which case its just a matter of recycling (and praying it actually gets recycled).

Another thing to mention is that here almost every home has a Bidet in the bathroom, so its not really necessary to buy toilet roll. Using a Bidet is proven to be a much more hygienic way to clean yourself after going to the toilet. I am very pro Bidet!

So Sevilla has a lot of amazing options for the package free life style.

Its just a case of changing the habits and making that little extra effort. Which seems to be hard for the local generations and people working long hours. And I understand as its a completely different kind of life style, but one that is necessary. And hopefully this message reaches people so that we can have more time on this amazing planet, taking care of our home together.