An easy way to reduce waste is to make a simple change at your local grocery store and start buying in bulk. Buying in bulk allows you to reduce waste in a few ways: you can use reusable containers or bags for the food you purchase, and you can purchase only the amount of food that you need.
Food in the bulk section also tends to be very fresh because it is replenished often. They also allow for more experimentation when it comes to cooking. Lastly, as you reduce your waste you’ll also be saving money by not buying the labels or packaging. Bulk sections offer a variety of different foods including beans, grains, flour, nuts, candy, and more.
How to buy in bulk
At first, the vast array and long lines of bins filled with, nuts, grains, flour, and more may seem intimidating. But if you follow these easy instructions, you’ll be on you way to reducing waste and saving money!
- Choose the item you want to purchase.
- If you can use your own container, find the TARE weight by weighing your empty container and writing down its weight. The grocery store can then subtract the weight of the container when charging for your food or product.
- Fill up your container or bag with the food or product.
- Make sure to write down the product number, listed as PLU, from the bulk container onto your individual container.
“Bulk packaged” vs. “bulk loose”
An important distinction to make before you start shopping is that “bulk packaged” and bulk loose” are not the same thing. Large wholesale club stores like Costco and Sam’s Club offer foods in bulk quantities, but this doesn’t always mean you are preventing waste. Many items are still individually packaged within a larger box or bag. Ask yourself if the packaging is reducing waste, and remember to only buy an amount of food your family can consume before it spoils. It can be tempting to buy a large amount of produce at a good price, but if it goes bad, you negate the benefits both to you and to the environment. Regular grocery stores and co-ops have “loose” bulk goods, where you usually scoop or pour the product directly into your own container or a provided bag. These options can be very helpful when trying to reduce waste because you can avoid packaging almost entirely.
Using your own containers
To buy in bulk you’ll need a storage container or bag of your choice. Ask your grocery store before using your own containers if they have a bulk bin section as many check-out aisles cannot remove the container weight, or “tare” weight, from your purchase.
If you find that your store cannot weigh outside bags or containers, you can always use a lightweight reusable bag instead of plastic produce bags, and use any reusable bag or container when items are sold by count instead of by weight. Check the price signs to find out how you’ll pay! Examples by count: “$0.79 each,” or “2 for $4”
