How to Buy Bulk
So you wanna start buying bulk?? That’s amazing! Remember this photo?
Well, the same goes for all of the other grocery store items that come packaged in plastic. Plastic bags of green beans, carrots, onions... plastic bins of spinach… plastic bags of pasta noodles... and don’t even get me started on those individually wrapped plastic bags of a handful of almonds 🤦♀️
First step, find your nearest grocery store that offers a bulk section. Luckily, Bea Johnson, the incredible founder of Zero Waste Home has made it SO EASY to find your local shop. She created a “Bulk Finder App” where you type in your zip code and a Google Map will show you your nearest shops.
Secondly, make your list. Food waste is a huge contributor to climate change, as we’re over-producing and under-consuming the INSANE amount of food that we’re growing and purchasing in the US. Making a list helps you buy only what you need, when you need it.
Then, pack your reusable bulk bags and jars.
*Some stores are weird about the tare/weight of your jars, so an easy fix is to weigh your jars in the produce aisle on one of the scales, and write it on the jar lid with a sharpie. That way you have it forever for future weighing!
Your glass jars can be any shape/size. I encourage you to use what you already have! Just make sure it’s clean before you bring it in. If you don’t have reusable bulk + produce bags yet, I would however recommend getting your hands on one. I typically don’t recommend you buying anything NEW for your sustainability journey (as there is already PLENTY of stuff on the planet already) so feel free to get creative here! You can make your own from upcycled fabric (my mom made me some out of upcycled furniture packaging/wrapping) OR - you can find them in your local zero-waste shop (if you have one in your community!) or sometimes they’ll even sell them in the grocery store like this:
Then, head to the store! Depending on what store you go to, you can find so many goodies that come in bulk. I recently went to the co-op in Santa Monica and they had so much produce that came in plastic-free bulk options. Check it out!
Fill up your bags with whatever bulk items you need! I recommend for nuts/grains to bring a glass jar to measure how much you need first, and then pouring it into your reusable bag, because they will need to be transferred to an airtight jar once you get home to make them last as long as possible.
I love how the bulk section even says “SAVE MONEY + REDUCE WASTE” to encourage you that much more! Some stores even have a killer spices + tea section. I found all sorts of treats at this shop.
Some shops can be a little finicky with their sanitation rules, especially with the peanut/almond butters, so just check with the store associate before you fill up your jar.
After you fill up your bag/jar, jot down the SKU number in your phone. Example: “Cashews - 3244.” That way you don’t have to use those pesky plastic wire ties. Once you’re ready to check out, bring all of your bags to the cashier and walk them through your SKU numbers. This is a cool chance to talk about sustainability with the store clerk, and why you’re choosing to buy bulk and avoid single-use-plastics.
Make sure to bring your own tote to carry all your new bulk goodies home. For the produce, they should be find on the counter in your fruit bowl or in the fridge, and again I recommend putting your nuts/grains in air-tight jars to make sure they last as long as possible.
and that’s it - voilá!
Give it a shot and let me know how you liked it. You’ve got this! Your shelves will be filled with #zerowaste #plasticfree goodies in no time.
