Many of us go to the grocery store at least once a week. Have you ever stopped to consider how much one-time plastic use bags or packaging are used throughout your trip? It’s more than just when you are packing up to leave.
At Altus Advantage, we are more than bath, body, and home cleaning product artisans. It’s important that we use natural ingredients in our products and return home with plastic-free groceries. We believe that the environment is what we leave to the next generation so it’s our responsibility to ensure that we do it in the best way we can now.
Can one little effort make a difference? If we make an effort to make a plastic-free grocery experience every time we go shopping, it will send a message to the food industry that it’s time to reevaluate the packaging practices they are currently using.
Before You Leave For The Shops
Go over your shopping list. What are you planning to buy? What plastic-free grocery bags or containers might you need both in the store and to carry your purchases to take home?
For instance, bring mesh or cloth bags for your fruits and vegetables or anything in bulk that doesn’t come in an easy-to-carry container.
When you buy in bulk, you will be able to use your own bags instead of plastic packaging. Doing plastic-free grocery shopping also saves you money because you will only purchase what you need and not what the store tells you that you need.
When You Shop
In addition to plastic-free grocery bags for fruits and vegetables, if on your list you have any rice, flour, spices, etc., make sure you bring clean containers that the amount you need to buy. When you arrive at the store, you can weigh your empty container before filling it so you only pay for the product you are purchasing.
Instead of buying a case of individual water or juice bottles, I recommend you find one big container and pour it as you need into your reusable water containers.
Go plastic-free and stop buying Ziploc bags or Saran Wrap. Consider a reusable alternative when you shop; this may include paper options, beeswax wrap, or a container with a lid.
If your meat is pre-packaged in your shop, choose the biggest serving and portion it out at home. You can also go to the meat counter and request it wrapped in butcher paper.
Wherever possible, choose bigger containers of food instead of personal size servings. Less plastic will be wasted and you will also be saving money in the long run.
As You Pack Your Purchases
