I was talking to my mother the other day and she mentioned how expensive it was to purchase organic groceries. I have found that shopping organic is only more expensive if you are buying packaged organic products. That’s the major beauty of sticking to only buying loose organic produce and making the most of the bulk section in your grocery store. Here are five benefits with zero waste grocery shopping in regards to enjoying the bulk section to the fullest!
1. No Marketing Distractions
Packaging and marketing are very persuasive and also distracting when you need to make a decision on what to buy. If I need to buy organic shredded coconut for my Coconut Goji Dream Bites recipe, I just need shredded coconut. I love pretty packaging, but when it comes down to it, it’s the shredded coconut not the drawing or photograph that is necessary for my recipe. When you shop in bulk, you purchase what you need without distraction.
2. Only Buy As Much As You Need
What I love most about buying in bulk is that I don’t have to buy a 16 oz size of a product if I only want 2 oz. This is a huge benefit if you are using cacao powder for bronzer or for other DIY beauty recipes. When I buy from the bulk section, I only get as much as I want. I also have the ability to stock up on quinoa if I want to.
3. Only Pay For The Product, Not Packaging
Often when you buy a product, you are also paying for the marketing strategies and packaging materials. When you buy in bulk, you only pay for the product. It’s that simple.
4. You Save Money
My grocery bill has drastically reduced once I stopped purchasing packaged products. When your grocery basket only contains fresh produce, items from the bulk bin, and nothing else, you will be surprised how much you actually save each month.
5. You Eat So Much Healthier
If most of your diet is predominately whole organic fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds, etc. versus processed foods, your body will be so much healthier. Processed foods do not add any nutritional value to the body. Eating simple whole foods creates whole body health.
*Bonus Benefit*
If you use organic cotton produce bags (the exact same ones pictured above) when shopping produce and the bulk section, you are essentially shopping zero waste. I love that these bags are well made and organic cotton. They also provide the tare weight on the tag which is easy for the cashier to find and punch in when checking out. I simply wash them weekly so they are ready for my next shopping trip.
So often when I am in line at the grocery store, I see mounds of plastic packaging or plastic bags around produce in shopping carts that will end up in the land fill before the week is over. Just by using reusuable produce bags, shopping loose produce, and taking advantage of the bulk section in your grocery store, you have completely eliminated unnecessary plastic food related trash.
Bulk Is Beautiful
I’ve seen variations of bulk sections in grocery stores. Some stores definitely have larger sections than others. I envy those who have access to buying henna, oils, apple cider vinegar, raw honey, and other items of the like in bulk as I saw in a grocery store in Portland, Oregon. So far in Los Angeles, I’ve seen all types of rices, flour, beans, trail mixes, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, granola, cereal, popcorn, dehydrated veggie snacks, cookies, sweet potato chips, pretzels, sweets, and so much more. I was super excited when I saw organic dates as a new item in the bulk section of my local grocery store.
Going zero waste takes time and commitment, yet minimizing plastic waste when grocery shopping is an amazing step!
(Image by Dawn Michelle)
Jess | Rose & Fig says
Wonderful post! I wish our local grocery had more bulk-buying options because currently, we empty out packages of snacks into glass jars to the same effect. (But without the environmental benefit of no packaging waste.)
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Jess | Rose & Fig! I find that more natural grocery/health food stores tend to have larger bulk sections but I am noticing more especially now that I am looking for it.
Helena says
Michelle, you inspire me so much at opting for a more minimalist, eco-friendly lifestyle. I stumbled on your blog when I was looking at recipes to make my own face serum. Since then, I adopted the KonMari method to eliminate all the things I didn’t need in my life but doing so made me realise how much waste I created. So I try to use everything up, buy less things that will last longer, and reduce packaging waste. Great thing in England is now you have to either bring your own bag or pay for plastic bags when shopping at supermarket.
Always thought that organic grocery shopping would be hell expensive but you sold me!! will definitely check the bulk section next time I’m out, thank you!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Helena,
It sounds like you have been making some incredible lifestyle changes already and that’s so amazing! Everyone makes excessive waste until they become more aware of it. That’s why I am so grateful for Bea Johnson and others who have been sharing their journey to zero waste. I had no idea that only 20% of plastics actually get recycled until I starting doing my own research.
Awareness, education, and commitment to making the necessary changes is what it’s about. Don’t worry so much about what you’ve done in the past. It’s all about what you do from today on.
Best wishes!
E says
I have a long way to go before I am zero waste and I always strive to be better. We have a bulk grocery store in my area, they provide plastic containers and I do use them, but I empty them when I get home, wash them and put them in my car to re-use the next trip. I can probably get several years of use out of them. I am keeping an eye out for some cotton bags, especially if I can up cycle them from another project.
Please keep posting, it brightens my day!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi E,
It takes time and commitment to make lifestyle changes and there isn’t any rush to make it happen immediately. There are definitely things to figure out along the way. The organic cotton produce bags are really awesome. At first I was self conscious using them because people tend to take notice, but I have found them to be a positive conversation starter. Plus they aren’t expensive at all to get a set of 6. I actually would like to purchase a second set myself. Have a great day and thanks for your comment!
kathleen says
I love this! Recently I ran out of a spice. I took the jar to the store to refill. The original spice was $4, to refill was 38 cents!
This is a beautiful stress free way to shop!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks so much for sharing this! It’s a prime example of how much you actually save living a zero waste lifestyle. Every dollar adds up over time!
Sandy says
I tend to agree with your mom, but that’s because I’ve watched the cost of fruits and veggies over a long time. ( I’m over 60) But I’m developing a work around yet setting a goal towards higher standards. You’ve got to start somewhere, right?
Tell your mom to check out this article on the “clean 15″( some things you can buy that are not 100% pesticide free) which is on EWG dot Org. When you get to that site click the tab Clean 15.
That said, there is some guilt, but I had to start somewhere. I figured it was better to to wean off pesticides, rather than get frustrated and blow my budget and new nutritional diet.
Also, when I buy cheese, I buy it in brick form and get the smallest amount and cut it, as needed, myself.
I’m also staying away from packaging as much as possible.
Whole Foods also sells the 365 Brand which is much cheaper than the others.
Thanks Dawn for the tips. I’m adding these also to my list. I like the idea of making up my own breakfast cereal recipes from grains in the bins.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sandy,
If you have a farmer’s market near you take advantage of it if you can. I actually purchase a case of organic fruit each week at an extra discounted price and it lasts the entire week. Farmer’s markets are much more affordable than grocery stores in general for organic produce and it tastes so much better than in stores. I will tell my mother about the article as well though.
I wasn’t even aware of all of the selection provided in the bulk section at the grocery store until I made it my primary area of shopping along with loose produce. Making your own cereal sounds divine!
Berit says
Do you find it difficult to get the cashier to utilize the tare on the bags when checking out? I see that they come pre-identified, which seems an amazing and brilliant idea.
Paying for the weight of my bag is heat has held me back from making my own/ using some like these you link to. It would be so great if this is actually a non-issue!
So, I also try to minimize the plastic produce bags in the store by just not using them. Sometimes, they have paper, and sometimes you have to (e.g. Green beans, okra), but I never get a bag for two grapefruit, 3 potatoes, 2 tomatoes, leaf lettuce, etc. I will be washing them at home, so cleanliness is not any issue. Also, I think to myself that shoppers will be really horrified by the “journey” their produce has been on BEFORE they get into OCD plastic bag mode.
I’d like to get into cloth bags, but what do you think about also encouraging people that they USUALLY don’t need any bags while shopping for produce.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Berit,
I haven’t had any problem with cashiers using the tare for my produce bags. I keep a note in my phone that converts the tare provided in ounces on the bag to lbs if the store system works with lbs. I just let the cashier know that the tare is on the bag after saying hello when it’s my turn to check out. As for encouraging others that they don’t need plastic produce bags, I just live by example and share what I am doing here on Minimalist Beauty. I also only purchase produce that is loose and not prepackaged. I hope this helps some!
Shanti says
Hi Michelle,
Very interesting. Good post as usual . I am from portland, oregon , can you please tell me the name of the store in portland that carries henna in bulk.
Thanks
Shanti
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Shanti,
Thanks! I don’t remember the exact name of the store but it was a natural food coop that I think is across the street (definitely walking distance) from the tiny house hotel. I hope that this helps some even though it could be more vague than helpful. Have a beautiful day!
Isabel says
Derek from Unconventional Living did recently a video on things he find annoying with the zero waste movements. I kind of agree with him on some points. One thing he addresses is that the bulk bins isn’t really “zero waste” the only thing is that YOU do not take home the bags the rice or beans comes in, they stay at the store. So the store is still generating waste you know, but for you.
I love the idea, and I try to do my best 🙂 But where I live there’s no bulk bins for rice and beans, and if there were I can tell you right away that it would be more expensive to buy from the bulk bins than in a bag. It’s absurd, I know. My other hate is that it’s impossible to buy organic foods as they all usually come in plastic (and those that do not come in plastic are much more expensive!), and buying “zero waste” would mean exposing myself to toxins. So in many ways, it could potentially harm my health even though I’m buying vegetables and fruit. I see many zero wasters either be very slim from eating less or very fat from binging on the fatty products. I do see a growing movement in the country I live in, but I doubt it will ever catch up in my small town.
I do the little things, bring my own reusable and washable shopping bag and produce bags. Plus I’m vegan, and the meat and dairy industry is some of the worst wasters in the world. There should definitely be some vegan points-system 😛 I’d use them up for a long steaming shower ^^
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Isabel,
I don’t think the zero waste movement’s intention is to annoy others, yet to bring more awareness of how we as a society are trashing the planet and steps we can take to minimize this. Someone in my apartment building put perfectly good chairs in the dumpster versus taking them to a charity shop this week. Since so many of us don’t work at recycling centers or at landfills, we tend to separate our actions from how they affects the planet when we throw everything away.
There is also more than buying in bulk that goes into striving for zero waste. Reusing items is such a huge part of it, for example buying secondhand. Also using reusuable napkins, and cleaning cloths versus paper napkins and paper towels. Purchasing a safety razor replaces disposable plastic razors, and using a menstrual cup/cloth pads eliminates unnecessary landfill trash. Choosing to make your own toothpaste with baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oils will be less waste than toothpaste tubes which are automatic trash. Hopefully the baking soda can be found in a recyclable cardboard box, and the coconut oil in a glass jar etc. but these type of efforts make a difference. I shared my zero waste bath and beauty products to give other examples.
I feel it can definitely be frustrating that it seems easier to live zero waste depending upon where you live. Some places may have weekly farmer’s markets where buying local organic produce is actually less expensive. Other places have a system of food composting pickups just like recycling which I wish was in Los Angeles. It is just about discovering your options where you live, and trying to make a positive impact while avoiding plastic packaged items as much as possible since plastic does not biodegrade. Not all plastic gets recycled. I appreciate your comment and love that you are taking the steps that you can to make a difference. Have a beautiful weekend!