How to Shop at Zero-Waste Grocery Stores
Everything you need to know about zero-waste, bulk, organic grocery shopping.
By Shelbi Evans
Feb. 6, 23
As climate change moves to the forefront of our collective consciousness, many of us are re-evaluating our consumption styles and habits. One good way to minimize your carbon footprint is to decrease your single-use plastic purchases and make the switch to package-free, bulk shopping. Fortunately, bulk produce and home goods stores are beginning to sprout up more and more. But, if you’ve never shopped at a bulk goods store, it can feel and look intimidating. We’re here to help you prepare for your first (or second, or third) bulk shopping trip. Once you understand how to navigate these planet-friendly establishments you may realize making this eco-conscious switch is much easier than you expected.
But, before we break down the bulk shopping process, we’re going to explain what exactly bulk food stores are, what makes these stores different from your usual big-box organic grocery store, and why bulk shopping is important.
local & organic pasta fill the bins at Precycle
Some commercial grocery stores, like Wholefoods or Sprouts, and local health food stores have a bulk aisle or bulk section in their store that features a small selection of (usually dry) goods available for purchase by weight. Buying in bulk can save money in the long run, provide healthy options, and is a more sustainable alternative to purchasing goods that come packaged in single-use plastic. These sections are a good start— but bulk stores are dedicated to providing the majority of their foods and goods by weight rather than in individual single-use plastic packaging.
Shopping at zero-waste grocery stores addresses some major climate issues; food waste and single-use plastic waste.
In the state of New York, food makes up about 18 percent of all waste. Each year, around 3.9 million tons of wasted food from New York end up in landfills, where it slowly decays and is a major contributor to methane gas production. At the same time, 12.8 percent of New Yorkers are food insecure. (nycfoodpolicy.org)
New York depends on clean waterways and coastlines to support 467,000 American jobs and $47.9 billion in GDP in our coastal tourism, fishing, and recreation industries. All of that is put at risk by the staggering amount of plastic entering our oceans and other waterways. Researchers have found that the level of microplastics in the Great Lakes rivals that of the world’s large ocean garbage patches. The estuarine sanctuary in the Hudson River near Manhattan is polluted with an average of 578,333 microplastic particles per square kilometer. (oceana.org)
grab as many organic lemons as your recipe calls for!
Finally, “supermarkets, restaurants, colleges, and hospitals are some of the largest food wasters, creating more than 250,000 tons of wasted food and food scraps each year, some of which is edible food that could be rescued instead of discarded.” (nycfoodpolicy.org)
Zero-waste grocery stores offer a simple and sustainable solution by providing their community with access to ethically sourced, waste-free, organic and sustainable essential groceries. Here are some tips to navigate these stores with ease so you can save money, minimize waste, and maximize your impact.
Plan ahead
Make a grocery list so you can buy only what you need for the week. This will cut your grocery bill and your perishable food waste. Pro tip: meal planning/prepping is a great way to figure out exactly what you need.
Gather your supplies
If you’re just getting started you may need to purchase reusable containers—lots of bulk stores have these available for a low cost. Double check what you have on hand and don’t be afraid to wash and reuse containers you’ve purchased before, like empty nut butter jars.
Shop for staples
Pantry staples like rice, beans, lentils, and coffee are great to purchase in bulk. You don’t have to worry as much about these items going bad quickly. Always store your dry goods in airtight containers.
Navigating the store
Many bulk goods stores will have a scale near the entry. You’ll weigh your containers before you fill them and write the weight down on the container or a piece of tape. Some stores may have modern hardware you use to track the weight of your containers. No matter what the system, just be sure to track the weight of your container containers before you get into shopping mode.
Zero waste shopping can seem a little intimidating when you get started, but with a little planning and practice, this eco-conscious way of consumption will become second nature.
Stop by Precycle for all your sustainable produce and home goods needs or visit us online at precycle.shop.
Sources
*https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/food-waste-food-by-the-numbers/