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by Chloe Greenfield
Between the glorious rainbow of veggies at your local farmer’s market and the towering display of plastic-packed pantry staples at the supermarket, grocery shopping can feel like navigating two different worlds. If you’ve ever thought “There has to be a better way to do this…” — you’re right. Cue the hero entrance for zero-waste grocery shopping!
Let’s break it down, carry it in jars, and wrap it in reusable cloth — everything you need to get started living (and eating!) more sustainably.
Every year, the average American tosses over 200 pounds of packaging waste from food alone. That’s like buying a whole cart of groceries and dumping the wrappers straight into the trash…before you even start cooking.
Zero-waste grocery shopping simply means buying your food in a way that produces as little waste as possible. Think recyclable, compostable, or — better yet — no packaging at all.
And the best part? It’s more doable than you think.
Before you fill a single jar, it helps to know the best places to get your groceries the low-waste way:
These glorious places often have bins of grains, nuts, snacks, pasta, coffee beans, and more. Bring your own containers (more on that below!), weigh them in advance, and fill ‘em up.
Besides the joy of chatting with local farmers about their homemade blueberry jam, farmer’s markets usually have produce that isn’t shrink-wrapped in plastic — plus eggs, bread, and sometimes even dairy products in reusable jars.
Even if your go-to grocery store doesn’t scream “eco-warrior,” you can shop smart by choosing items in glass jars or recyclable packaging, skipping plastic bags in the produce aisle, and avoiding individually wrapped items.
Let’s talk gear. Think of these like your utility belt for sustainable shopping:
Perfect for fruits, veggies, mushrooms, and even dried goods. They’re lightweight, washable, and come in mesh or cotton.
Favorites:
Use mason jars for snacks, grains, spices, and even fresh peanut butter at bulk stores. Bonus: they go straight into your pantry!
Make sure to “tare” your containers before filling them — that’s just weighing them empty so you’re not charged for the jar!
Leave plastic in the past. Strong, foldable, often cute — canvas totes are your new sidekick.
Want more ideas for reusable swaps? Don’t miss Ditch Plastic Bags: Embrace Reusable Totes for a Greener Future for tips and favorites.
Here’s a peek at a typical zero-waste haul. You can screenshot this or save it to your phone.
Coming soon to our Instagram: A printable zero-waste grocery checklist you can take with you every week. Stay tuned!
If approaching the scale with your half-dozen mason jars fills you with mild-to-moderate anxiety, you’re not alone. But don’t worry — most stores are used to the zero-waste crowd.
Just say:
“Hi! I pre-weighed these jars and wrote the tare weight on top. Let me know if you need anything!”
Keep an eye out for these sneaky packaging traps:
Remember, “biodegradable” doesn’t always mean better — look for truly compostable or reusable options instead.
Once you’re home with all your goodies, make sure they stay fresh without resorting to plastic wrap.
No need to go from zero to zero-waste-hero overnight. Try starting with just these three steps:
Start small, stay consistent, and give yourself high-fives along the way.
Every time you skip a plastic bag or fill your own jar, you’re casting a vote for a cleaner planet. No step is too small!
Want your sustainable kitchen journey to stretch beyond the grocery cart?
So the next time you’re heading out for groceries, skip the aisle cluttered with overpackaged oatmeal and say yes to scooping your own from a friendly bulk bin.
Cheers to grocery hauls that lighten your impact and your conscience — one reusable bag at a time!
Chloe Greenfield
Chloe's journey into eco-friendly living began when she accidentally brought her reusable coffee cup to a meeting and was dubbed "the tree hugger" by her coworkers. Leaning into the label, she discovered a passion for sustainability and simple living. Now, she's on a mission to make sustainable habits fun, relatable, and easy for everyone—no tree-hugging required (though she still does it sometimes).
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