How To: Zero Waste Grocery Shopping

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We produce a huge amount of waste in our day-to-day lives. According to an EPA report from 2014, Americans generate an average of 4.44 lbs of municipal waste per person per day. Over 10% of this waste is made up of plastic – half of which is only used once before it is thrown away (iced coffee cups, plastic cutlery, plastic bags of frozen food, etc.). This has a hugely negative impact on our environment killing birds, turtles, and other ocean life who accidentally mistake our trash for food and littering beaches and waterways with plastic. One of the biggest movements to combat this is the Zero-Waste movement. This practice aims to dramatically reduce or eliminate waste at the household and individual level.

One of the biggest areas where I noticed plastic use in my life was in my grocery purchases. I couldn’t get yogurt, nuts, cheese, and even some produce without it being covered in plastic. Knowing that that plastic could end up on a beach forever or around a sea turtle’s neck made me commit to reducing unnecessary plastic waste from my food. On my journey to transitioning to plastic-free and zero-waste grocery shopping, I found that there are a couple things that greatly help make the transition a smooth one.

Here is a basic list of what you should bring with you:

• At least one large reusable tote for all of your groceries
• Several mesh or cotton bags for produce and dry bulk goods. I LOVE these organic cotton bags. I have also used these mesh bags for years.
• Several jars of various sizes — my favorite are mason jars and there are always some at my local thrift store.
• Glass bottles with leak-proof lids (very important otherwise you could end up spilling maple syrup in your cart!) I reuse glass bottles from the kombucha that I buy from the farmer’s market!
• Labels
• Optional: a 6 compartment beverage bag (to keep glass jars separated and upright)

Directions:

Step 1: Make a grocery list so you know what containers and how many bags to bring. Bring a couple extra just in case you find something you can’t live without. The last time I went bulk shopping, I found freshly ground chocolate hazelnut butter (Nutella – but better!). I was so happy I brought an extra jar along!

Step 2: Stick labels onto all of your jars and bottles so you can write down the tare (weight of the container before you fill it) and the bin number. I have written these things directly on the jars or lids before but I find they don’t come off very easily.

Step 3: At the grocery store, head straight for the check-out line, place all the jars on the check stand and the cashier will weigh each jar and you can write the weight on each label (leaving room for the bin number).

Step 4: Take your newly weighed jars and bottles and get started! In the produce section, you can put all of the delicate produce (leafy greens, pears, etc.) in your reusable produce bags. All of the more durable produce items (lemons, onions, etc.) can go loose in your cart.

Step 5: To the bulk section! Typically bulk items are in jars (spices and herbs) or in bins (grains, nuts, etc.). Using the scoop provided, scoop the bulk item out into your jar, fill it, and mark the bin number so the cashier knows what is in the jar. If you are using a bag for a bulk item, I either write the bin number on a label or write it on the twist tie provided and tie it onto the bag string.  If you have questions about how to access any items (the nut butters were tricky at first) there is usually a clerk nearby who can help! I guarantee you are not the first person to have a question and remember it can take some time to get used to a new way to shop!

Step 6: Check out with your marked jars, bags, and bottles.

Step 7: When you get home, it is easy to keep all of the goods in the containers you bought them in (plus a cupboard full of marked glass jars is more beautiful and organized looking!) When you are finished, the bags and containers can be laundered or thrown in the dishwasher and used again – no waste!

I have found great bulk sections popping up in more and more grocery stores in recent years. The grocery store that I go to has an amazing bulk section complete with dried fruit, nuts, beans, baking ingredients, dozens of teas, herbs, and spices and several nut butters. They even have bulk Epsom salts, body care products and bulk cheese, olives, and shellfish! Since the store is about a 20-minute drive away, I limit my trips to about once every month or two and stock up.

If you don’t have a bulk store in your area, you can still choose to buy food without plastic packaging (it’s typically less processed that way as well!) and bring your own bags for your grocery items. Also, it is worth asking the store manager if they could add a bulk section – if there is enough interest and demand in the community then they may add bulk shopping options to your store! Every choice makes a difference.

 

If you already practice zero-waste grocery shopping, what has helped you stick with it? If you are new to zero-waste grocery shopping, what are the biggest obstacles you see?