Tiny Trash Can how to shop package-free

How to shop package-free

Here's my system for grocery shopping with zero waste:

Step 1

I grab the containers I'll need based on my bulk shopping list. On today’s list: sausage, labneh (my cream cheese substitute), tzatziki, eggs, flour, brown rice, mozzarella, granola and balsamic vinegar.

Tiny Trash Can how to shop package-free

Step 2

I group the containers by store and pack them in my reusable grocery bags.

Tiny Trash Can how to shop package-free

Step 3

I get my meat and cheese containers filled by store employees and refill the others myself. I then choose unpackaged fruit and vegetables from the produce section.

Tiny Trash Can buying cheese zero waste

Zero waste shopping takes some planning upfront, but it gets easier the more you do it. And once you have systems in place that work for you, avoiding waste becomes (almost) effortless! 😃

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2 thoughts on “How to shop package-free”

  1. Hi, this is fine if you drive your car to shop. Driving is not waste-free and probably has a bigger carbon footprint than a few lightweight plastics. I do about half my shopping by bike on my way home from work. It’s not feasible to carry all the extra weight (I already have my lunch containers, work clothes, and other essentials of the day filling one pannier, my gym bag filling the other). Please give better examples of lightweight food transport options.
    thanks!

    1. Unfortunately, I don’t live within walking or biking distance of many stores, so I drive a hybrid car and am careful to minimize the amount of driving I do. I only shop on my way home from school and buy as much as I can each trip 🙂

      For lightweight bulk shopping containers, I recommend cloth or mesh bags. These are perfect for dry goods (flour, nuts, rice, coffee, etc.) and won’t take up much space in your bag. If you already own some reusable plastic containers, bags or tubs, you can put all your mesh bags in there. Plastic containers don’t weigh much and won’t break in your bag. I like to nest multiple containers inside each other when possible to maximize space 😉 Hope this helps!

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