We only sell nuts, Nut Shop
 |
Description
Book Introduction
“No plastic containers! It’s okay if it’s a little inconvenient.” The first book written by the three co-owners of 'Almeng Store,' a store that sells only nuts and has received media attention as Korea's first refill station, has been published. The story of how the 'trash nerds' who gathered to reduce the use of plastic bags in the local market struggled to become the owners, the ongoing efforts to use as much trash as possible as a resource, the campaign that gathers voices with citizens to change companies and the country, and even the items sold in the store that help with 'value consumption' are all packed into one book. Readers will empathize with, be outraged by, and sometimes even admire, those who decide to dream despite the fact that it sometimes feels too late, and those who decide not to despair but to move forward because they want to believe that we still have the time and will to act. And ultimately, we will all have the determination to practice the ultimate self-care by eliminating plastic and disposable items from our daily lives. |
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
prolog
Chapter 1.
Korea's first refill station, Almang Store
A plastic-free dream with only the kernel
… Those who only seek the essence, meet at Mangwon Market
…Almang@Mangwon Market Season 2
…plastic-free neighborhood telescope, it's not going my way
Korea's first refill station, refill everything in the world.
… Mangwon Market Detergent Refill Store
…Can cosmetics be refilled? Call!
…I wish shampoo refills were available in every corner of the neighborhood.
…Creating a Plastic-Free Village: For Those Who Dream of a Small Detergent Shop
Creating a Korean-style zero-waste store: The full-fledged startup story of Almang Store.
…Who wants to be a CEO? How do you become a CEO?
…a store of ours, by us, for us
…opening with the support of small shops
…a strange and free-spirited way to run a store
…the criteria for selecting items from the Almang store
…the birth of a zero-waste ecosystem where people feed each other.
…The slow business of small, zero-waste shops in each neighborhood
…This is the neighborhood’s own Green New Deal.
…A Guide for Those Who Dream of Opening a Zero-Waste Store & Refill Station
Chapter 2.
Branch 1: Community Resource Center, Branch 2: Vegan Cafe with No Disposable Items
Our neighborhood stuff sharing center gives life back to those in need.
The Waste We Need to Tackle: Recycling Isn't the Answer
…Korean-style zero-waste: stores that voluntarily collect trash
…paper packs are not paper
…coffee grounds that can become a new resource
…A revolution in discarded plastic! A toothpaste squeezer made from a bottle cap?
…sneaker laces that become trash when you buy sneakers
…Can silicone be recycled?
… Discarded crayons can be melted and reused.
…if onion nets can be recycled too
… we accept eco bags and paper bags that you can sleep in at home
… portable water filter ‘Brita water filter’
…cleanly washed?sterilized glass bottles, plastic bottles
…it wasn't actually disposable, it was a used cartridge, toner
…the trash collected over a period of time, demands to be changed
…resource circulation statistics of Almang Store
Almang Store 2nd Branch, Seoul Station Listing
…a cafe without disposable cups
…Why did you give up on the pretty glass cup?
…Mining Out: For Sustainable Food
…is food waste a bigger problem than plastic waste?
…the circular economy (5R) that solves waste
…waste separation tips
Chapter 3.
Change happens when we gather our voices, let's do it together campaign!
Formation of the Almang@Mangwon Market Community: Vinyl Out
Could we eliminate straws from cafes?
Carrot Mob: Be brave
Unpackaged Network Investigation Team
Brita Attack
First Cosmetics Packaging Attack: Cosmetic Containers Are Non-Recyclable
Secondary cosmetics packaging attack
Deregulation to revitalize refill stations
'Extinction. Crisis' campaign
Waste and Plastic Problems: Citizen Participation is the Answer
Chapter 4.
Now it's not about cost-effective consumption, it's about value consumption
Criteria for selecting products at Almang Store (items that can contain value)
What's in My Bag: Zero Waste in My Bag
Our home cafe
kitchen
bathroom
multipurpose room
Living room and office
Give a gift of value consumption
Epilogue
…Geumja
… silver
… Raegyo
Chapter 1.
Korea's first refill station, Almang Store
A plastic-free dream with only the kernel
… Those who only seek the essence, meet at Mangwon Market
…Almang@Mangwon Market Season 2
…plastic-free neighborhood telescope, it's not going my way
Korea's first refill station, refill everything in the world.
… Mangwon Market Detergent Refill Store
…Can cosmetics be refilled? Call!
…I wish shampoo refills were available in every corner of the neighborhood.
…Creating a Plastic-Free Village: For Those Who Dream of a Small Detergent Shop
Creating a Korean-style zero-waste store: The full-fledged startup story of Almang Store.
…Who wants to be a CEO? How do you become a CEO?
…a store of ours, by us, for us
…opening with the support of small shops
…a strange and free-spirited way to run a store
…the criteria for selecting items from the Almang store
…the birth of a zero-waste ecosystem where people feed each other.
…The slow business of small, zero-waste shops in each neighborhood
…This is the neighborhood’s own Green New Deal.
…A Guide for Those Who Dream of Opening a Zero-Waste Store & Refill Station
Chapter 2.
Branch 1: Community Resource Center, Branch 2: Vegan Cafe with No Disposable Items
Our neighborhood stuff sharing center gives life back to those in need.
The Waste We Need to Tackle: Recycling Isn't the Answer
…Korean-style zero-waste: stores that voluntarily collect trash
…paper packs are not paper
…coffee grounds that can become a new resource
…A revolution in discarded plastic! A toothpaste squeezer made from a bottle cap?
…sneaker laces that become trash when you buy sneakers
…Can silicone be recycled?
… Discarded crayons can be melted and reused.
…if onion nets can be recycled too
… we accept eco bags and paper bags that you can sleep in at home
… portable water filter ‘Brita water filter’
…cleanly washed?sterilized glass bottles, plastic bottles
…it wasn't actually disposable, it was a used cartridge, toner
…the trash collected over a period of time, demands to be changed
…resource circulation statistics of Almang Store
Almang Store 2nd Branch, Seoul Station Listing
…a cafe without disposable cups
…Why did you give up on the pretty glass cup?
…Mining Out: For Sustainable Food
…is food waste a bigger problem than plastic waste?
…the circular economy (5R) that solves waste
…waste separation tips
Chapter 3.
Change happens when we gather our voices, let's do it together campaign!
Formation of the Almang@Mangwon Market Community: Vinyl Out
Could we eliminate straws from cafes?
Carrot Mob: Be brave
Unpackaged Network Investigation Team
Brita Attack
First Cosmetics Packaging Attack: Cosmetic Containers Are Non-Recyclable
Secondary cosmetics packaging attack
Deregulation to revitalize refill stations
'Extinction. Crisis' campaign
Waste and Plastic Problems: Citizen Participation is the Answer
Chapter 4.
Now it's not about cost-effective consumption, it's about value consumption
Criteria for selecting products at Almang Store (items that can contain value)
What's in My Bag: Zero Waste in My Bag
Our home cafe
kitchen
bathroom
multipurpose room
Living room and office
Give a gift of value consumption
Epilogue
…Geumja
… silver
… Raegyo
Detailed image
Into the book
There is a story that has not been told yet.
This is the story of how I became an 'accidental boss' by starting a store called 'Almang Store' beyond my personal practice and activist campaign.
This is our story, which evolved from a loose relationship that started simply because we liked practicing plastic-free practices to a ruthless(?) business relationship where money and business become entangled like kudzu vines.
In addition, there are stories about customers of Almang Store and other zero-waste stores, as well as stories about companies that make good products for Almang Store and recycle the waste collected by Almang Store.
This book contains stories that I want to tell but haven't been able to tell yet.
---From the "Prologue"
But as Kim Yu-shin said, my electronic devices betrayed my will.
My laptop screen, connected to Wi-Fi, was filled with images of Bangkok's zero-waste shops.
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, remembering past searches, simultaneously promoted zero-waste stores in Bangkok and trash-picking groups on Pattaya Beach.
Instead of cutting the neck of my laptop, I grabbed my courage and went on a zero-waste shopping trip.
Because I was back at work, I had to put my swimsuit made from ocean trash in my bag.
One of them was 'Bettermoon', a five-story building filled with zero waste.
Better Moon, located in the middle of a traditional market, operates as a zero-waste store and cafe on the first floor, an education and workshop space on the second floor, and zero-waste accommodations on the third to fifth floors.
Curious to know more, I requested an interview with the owner, and the young man, who appeared to be in his late 20s, readily welcomed us.
I was curious how they started a zero-waste business that spanned an entire five-story building, and where such a large distribution came from.
---From "Korea's first refill station, I want to refill everything in the world"
The trash I started collecting was paper packs, coffee grounds, small plastic bottle caps, reusable bottles, eco-bags, and paper bags.
Rumors spread that this was a unique store that accepted waste that was difficult to recycle, and it was reported in the press and various media outlets. People from all over the country, including companies, welfare centers, libraries, cooperatives, and Hansalim, visited the store.
There is also a growing number of places requesting trash education from community recycling centers.
There were many places that wanted to work together and were curious about how to operate and where to send resources.
We've been generously sharing information about the places we connect with, even without consulting fees, for hours at a time, because it's better if we all gather together.
In this way, the number of places where trash is collected without being asked to do so has gradually increased.
---From "The Waste We Need to Solve: Recycling Is Not the Answer"
No matter how good a spark is, it cannot grow on its own.
It needs firewood and wind to keep burning brightly and not go out.
If the campaigners who laid the groundwork are the small sparks, the firewood and wind are the stores and citizens who participated voluntarily.
Would the fire have grown if it weren't for these people? Without the attention of each and every one of them, the Brita Attack would have failed.
Individuals who took the time to sign up to reduce plastic waste, citizens who collected filters instead of throwing them away, and store representatives at nationwide collection centers who willingly provided space in their stores to collect waste.
If it weren't for them, many Brita filters would still be thrown away as general waste.
---From "Britta Attack"
Microplastic-catching laundry net: Used when washing synthetic fiber fabrics.
Washing machines have a filtering device during washing.
However, it is difficult to filter out finely divided plastic fibers.
Tons of plastic are shed from poly fabrics and flow into the sewer.
What if I used a laundry net for my laundry? It would reduce friction between items, which would also reduce the amount of microplastics produced.
Additionally, since microplastics are trapped in laundry nets, shaking off the dust inside the dry laundry net and putting it in a garbage bag can help reduce the amount of plastic going into the ocean.
---From "Now it's not about cost-effective consumption, but value consumption"
I am writing this article after seeing countless photos of disposable waste and birds dying from mask straps due to the coronavirus.
The world is full of facts that leave us feeling hopeless.
Sometimes I feel like it's too late and I cry and empathize with the younger generation who are suffering from 'climate depression'.
But I will dream.
I want to believe that we still have the time and will to act, and to forge that belief, I move my body without despair, step by step.
I think about the pessimism of reason and the optimism of will that Gramsci wrote about in prison.
I have some wonderful people who have reached out to me and encouraged me to work with them on building a thrift store and doing whatever we can together.
This is the story of how I became an 'accidental boss' by starting a store called 'Almang Store' beyond my personal practice and activist campaign.
This is our story, which evolved from a loose relationship that started simply because we liked practicing plastic-free practices to a ruthless(?) business relationship where money and business become entangled like kudzu vines.
In addition, there are stories about customers of Almang Store and other zero-waste stores, as well as stories about companies that make good products for Almang Store and recycle the waste collected by Almang Store.
This book contains stories that I want to tell but haven't been able to tell yet.
---From the "Prologue"
But as Kim Yu-shin said, my electronic devices betrayed my will.
My laptop screen, connected to Wi-Fi, was filled with images of Bangkok's zero-waste shops.
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, remembering past searches, simultaneously promoted zero-waste stores in Bangkok and trash-picking groups on Pattaya Beach.
Instead of cutting the neck of my laptop, I grabbed my courage and went on a zero-waste shopping trip.
Because I was back at work, I had to put my swimsuit made from ocean trash in my bag.
One of them was 'Bettermoon', a five-story building filled with zero waste.
Better Moon, located in the middle of a traditional market, operates as a zero-waste store and cafe on the first floor, an education and workshop space on the second floor, and zero-waste accommodations on the third to fifth floors.
Curious to know more, I requested an interview with the owner, and the young man, who appeared to be in his late 20s, readily welcomed us.
I was curious how they started a zero-waste business that spanned an entire five-story building, and where such a large distribution came from.
---From "Korea's first refill station, I want to refill everything in the world"
The trash I started collecting was paper packs, coffee grounds, small plastic bottle caps, reusable bottles, eco-bags, and paper bags.
Rumors spread that this was a unique store that accepted waste that was difficult to recycle, and it was reported in the press and various media outlets. People from all over the country, including companies, welfare centers, libraries, cooperatives, and Hansalim, visited the store.
There is also a growing number of places requesting trash education from community recycling centers.
There were many places that wanted to work together and were curious about how to operate and where to send resources.
We've been generously sharing information about the places we connect with, even without consulting fees, for hours at a time, because it's better if we all gather together.
In this way, the number of places where trash is collected without being asked to do so has gradually increased.
---From "The Waste We Need to Solve: Recycling Is Not the Answer"
No matter how good a spark is, it cannot grow on its own.
It needs firewood and wind to keep burning brightly and not go out.
If the campaigners who laid the groundwork are the small sparks, the firewood and wind are the stores and citizens who participated voluntarily.
Would the fire have grown if it weren't for these people? Without the attention of each and every one of them, the Brita Attack would have failed.
Individuals who took the time to sign up to reduce plastic waste, citizens who collected filters instead of throwing them away, and store representatives at nationwide collection centers who willingly provided space in their stores to collect waste.
If it weren't for them, many Brita filters would still be thrown away as general waste.
---From "Britta Attack"
Microplastic-catching laundry net: Used when washing synthetic fiber fabrics.
Washing machines have a filtering device during washing.
However, it is difficult to filter out finely divided plastic fibers.
Tons of plastic are shed from poly fabrics and flow into the sewer.
What if I used a laundry net for my laundry? It would reduce friction between items, which would also reduce the amount of microplastics produced.
Additionally, since microplastics are trapped in laundry nets, shaking off the dust inside the dry laundry net and putting it in a garbage bag can help reduce the amount of plastic going into the ocean.
---From "Now it's not about cost-effective consumption, but value consumption"
I am writing this article after seeing countless photos of disposable waste and birds dying from mask straps due to the coronavirus.
The world is full of facts that leave us feeling hopeless.
Sometimes I feel like it's too late and I cry and empathize with the younger generation who are suffering from 'climate depression'.
But I will dream.
I want to believe that we still have the time and will to act, and to forge that belief, I move my body without despair, step by step.
I think about the pessimism of reason and the optimism of will that Gramsci wrote about in prison.
I have some wonderful people who have reached out to me and encouraged me to work with them on building a thrift store and doing whatever we can together.
---From the "Epilogue"
Publisher's Review
“If my consumption could take care of our lives”
A green consumption ecosystem created by strong, small minds
Even if you use a shopping bag instead of plastic, refuse disposable cups, and carry a tumbler, you still sigh on days when you throw away trash.
Clean food packaging, empty cosmetic containers that still look brand new, kitchen detergent containers that still come with plastic even when refilled… I feel uncomfortable separating my trash.
'It's a perfectly good container, but can't we just fill it with contents and use it again?' Some people first ponder this and then turn the unreal into reality.
These are the three co-representatives of 'Almang Store' in Mangwon-dong.
The three representatives we met at the Almang campaign, which started with the aim of renting shopping carts at Mangwon Market and reducing disposable products, wanted to refill only Almang cosmetics and detergents that cannot be purchased with only Almang no matter how hard they try.
Zero-waste stores were popping up one by one, but in my neighborhood, in Korea, there was not a single place that refilled detergent or cosmetics.
When I opened a pop-up shop with five different types of detergent in a corner of a cafe I frequented, people from all over the country came to buy their own containers.
Zero-waste stores in Germany, Thailand, and Italy also sell cosmetics refills.
However, in Korea, especially in the case of cosmetics, a 'custom cosmetics formulation manager' license was required to sell finished products.
I passed the certification exam, which has an average pass rate of less than 15 percent, but this time I was still concerned about microbial contamination when dividing the products into smaller portions, and I had to buy cosmetics in bulk, which were expensive because of their seemingly expensive packaging.
When I was struggling to buy 300 kilograms of cosmetics, I thought that if I failed, I would give the cosmetics to people who brought their own containers and close the store.
It was possible not because I wanted to open a store and make a lot of money, but because I wanted to see zero waste permeate people's lives.
This book, which details the trials and tribulations that led to the creation of Korea's first refill station, will inspire readers to "do what I can do in my position," and will serve as a faithful guide for countless future entrepreneurs who wish to open a zero-waste store.
“Collecting trash and voices”
A community hub space made possible by a sincere desire to reduce waste.
There is another special thing about Almang Store.
Collect trash such as paper packs, bottle caps, and dried coffee grounds from customers.
(We do not accept delivery to reduce our carbon footprint.) Above all, we want to inform citizens that if we manage waste carefully, it can become a resource.
Although the items are slightly different, other zero-waste stores are also voluntarily operating flagship stores.
The resources collected in this way are sent to where they are needed and where they can be recycled or reused.
The reason we continue to do work that provides no benefits or support, is time-consuming, takes up space, and sometimes even causes a loss is because of our earnest desire to somehow utilize waste that is difficult to recycle and turn it into a resource, and our sincere heart toward waste.
The store also received media attention for its 'Brita Filter Attack', which led to changes at the global giant Brita.
In addition, Almang Store has been a base for campaigns and attacks that gather citizens' actions and voices, such as the Plastic Out campaign for plastic-free, the Straw Removal Campaign in Cafes, the "Be Courageous" Carrot Mob, the Packaging-Free Network Investigation Team, and the "Extinction. Species. Crisis" campaign.
We have been at the forefront of changing corporate and national systems by attacking cosmetics packaging and working to revitalize domestic refill stations.
Chapters 2 and 3 of this book introduce various campaigns and attacks, as well as waste reduction activities that we can participate in at any time.
The voice of an individual has infinite power to change the direction of a company and correct the institutions of a nation.
We quietly encourage readers to raise their voices together, believing in the possibility that we can change the world for the better.
"It's no longer about cost-effective consumption, it's about value consumption."
A hip lifestyle that makes you feel good every day
Finally, this book introduces eco-friendly, zero-waste items selected by three uncompromising store owners who adhere to strict standards.
The criteria were broadly divided into six categories: products that produce less waste during distribution, products with extended lifespans made from recycled or reused materials, products that minimize environmental impact during their production and disposal processes, products that strive to reduce carbon emissions, products that respect their makers and pursue social value, and vegan products that exclude animal ingredients and animal testing.
Simply replacing everyday items and gifting valuable consumer products can help improve environmental issues.
Throughout the book, the three representatives talk about the power of solidarity.
If there had not been people who 'had the courage' to buy only the kernels, if there had not been citizens who collected trash and voices, this much change would not have been possible.
What we ultimately encounter in this book is hope.
It's okay if it's small or not perfect.
I hope that reading this book will strengthen your heart and that we can encourage each other and work together to create a better reality.
*The text of this book was printed with soy ink on environmentally friendly recycled paper.
The cover is made of FSC-certified eco-friendly paper and is uncoated to promote natural recycling.
A green consumption ecosystem created by strong, small minds
Even if you use a shopping bag instead of plastic, refuse disposable cups, and carry a tumbler, you still sigh on days when you throw away trash.
Clean food packaging, empty cosmetic containers that still look brand new, kitchen detergent containers that still come with plastic even when refilled… I feel uncomfortable separating my trash.
'It's a perfectly good container, but can't we just fill it with contents and use it again?' Some people first ponder this and then turn the unreal into reality.
These are the three co-representatives of 'Almang Store' in Mangwon-dong.
The three representatives we met at the Almang campaign, which started with the aim of renting shopping carts at Mangwon Market and reducing disposable products, wanted to refill only Almang cosmetics and detergents that cannot be purchased with only Almang no matter how hard they try.
Zero-waste stores were popping up one by one, but in my neighborhood, in Korea, there was not a single place that refilled detergent or cosmetics.
When I opened a pop-up shop with five different types of detergent in a corner of a cafe I frequented, people from all over the country came to buy their own containers.
Zero-waste stores in Germany, Thailand, and Italy also sell cosmetics refills.
However, in Korea, especially in the case of cosmetics, a 'custom cosmetics formulation manager' license was required to sell finished products.
I passed the certification exam, which has an average pass rate of less than 15 percent, but this time I was still concerned about microbial contamination when dividing the products into smaller portions, and I had to buy cosmetics in bulk, which were expensive because of their seemingly expensive packaging.
When I was struggling to buy 300 kilograms of cosmetics, I thought that if I failed, I would give the cosmetics to people who brought their own containers and close the store.
It was possible not because I wanted to open a store and make a lot of money, but because I wanted to see zero waste permeate people's lives.
This book, which details the trials and tribulations that led to the creation of Korea's first refill station, will inspire readers to "do what I can do in my position," and will serve as a faithful guide for countless future entrepreneurs who wish to open a zero-waste store.
“Collecting trash and voices”
A community hub space made possible by a sincere desire to reduce waste.
There is another special thing about Almang Store.
Collect trash such as paper packs, bottle caps, and dried coffee grounds from customers.
(We do not accept delivery to reduce our carbon footprint.) Above all, we want to inform citizens that if we manage waste carefully, it can become a resource.
Although the items are slightly different, other zero-waste stores are also voluntarily operating flagship stores.
The resources collected in this way are sent to where they are needed and where they can be recycled or reused.
The reason we continue to do work that provides no benefits or support, is time-consuming, takes up space, and sometimes even causes a loss is because of our earnest desire to somehow utilize waste that is difficult to recycle and turn it into a resource, and our sincere heart toward waste.
The store also received media attention for its 'Brita Filter Attack', which led to changes at the global giant Brita.
In addition, Almang Store has been a base for campaigns and attacks that gather citizens' actions and voices, such as the Plastic Out campaign for plastic-free, the Straw Removal Campaign in Cafes, the "Be Courageous" Carrot Mob, the Packaging-Free Network Investigation Team, and the "Extinction. Species. Crisis" campaign.
We have been at the forefront of changing corporate and national systems by attacking cosmetics packaging and working to revitalize domestic refill stations.
Chapters 2 and 3 of this book introduce various campaigns and attacks, as well as waste reduction activities that we can participate in at any time.
The voice of an individual has infinite power to change the direction of a company and correct the institutions of a nation.
We quietly encourage readers to raise their voices together, believing in the possibility that we can change the world for the better.
"It's no longer about cost-effective consumption, it's about value consumption."
A hip lifestyle that makes you feel good every day
Finally, this book introduces eco-friendly, zero-waste items selected by three uncompromising store owners who adhere to strict standards.
The criteria were broadly divided into six categories: products that produce less waste during distribution, products with extended lifespans made from recycled or reused materials, products that minimize environmental impact during their production and disposal processes, products that strive to reduce carbon emissions, products that respect their makers and pursue social value, and vegan products that exclude animal ingredients and animal testing.
Simply replacing everyday items and gifting valuable consumer products can help improve environmental issues.
Throughout the book, the three representatives talk about the power of solidarity.
If there had not been people who 'had the courage' to buy only the kernels, if there had not been citizens who collected trash and voices, this much change would not have been possible.
What we ultimately encounter in this book is hope.
It's okay if it's small or not perfect.
I hope that reading this book will strengthen your heart and that we can encourage each other and work together to create a better reality.
*The text of this book was printed with soy ink on environmentally friendly recycled paper.
The cover is made of FSC-certified eco-friendly paper and is uncoated to promote natural recycling.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: May 4, 2022
- Page count, weight, size: 280 pages | 366g | 130*200*16mm
- ISBN13: 9791168123038
- ISBN10: 1168123038
You may also like
카테고리
korean
korean
![GQ KOREA Mark (Monthly): December [2025]](http://librairie.coreenne.fr/cdn/shop/files/8ef265dbbfbf186523ed75ba7319009d.jpg?v=1765340328&width=3840)
