Buying Bulk Foods Can Save The World!

Think about it – nearly all the trash you throw out comes from one place – the grocery store. If you were able to reduce the amount of packaging you purchase from there you would not only reduce the amount of garbage you produce, you would save money, you would reduce the carbon impact on the planet from the manufacturing and transportation of those materials too.

So where do you start? The first place is the Bulk Foods aisle…and by bringing your own empty containers to fill up with.

Here’s what you need, and what you will bring to the store each time you go:

• Empty Jars (Like Quattro Stagioni BPA free)
• Painters Tape
• Magic Marker
• Canning Funnel
• A sturdy box to hold it all

You put 4 pieces of tape on each jar. Each piece about 2 or 3″ long. Each piece will have something written on it:

1. The tare (see below)
2. The sku code
3. Description of contents
4. Date filled

We use separate pieces, that way if something changes, we only need to replace that piece. Also after a time you fill up the Date Filled piece of tape and it needs to be replaced. The Tare piece will probably never be changed.

We also try not to fill in the whole piece of tape – save yourself some room in case you need to change something later, its easier not to have to replace the tape each time.

Here’s the process the first time:

1. Talk to the manager at the customer service desk and ask them if they will allow you to bring your own containers for the bulk foods. Go to the manager, not a clerk. The clerk will almost always tell you “no” because they are guessing and usually don’t know any better. We’ve found stores like Whole Foods respond better to this idea than other places – which is fine by us cause their stuffs organic, and their bulk foods are not expensive at all.
2. Collect the empty jars at home. Wash and dry thoroughly. Put the four pieces of tape on them as described above. Put them in a box along with the marker, funnel, and the roll of tape.
3. Bring the box with you to the grocery store. Go to the customer service desk and ask them to “tare” the jars while they are empty. Write the tare on the top piece of tape. It will look like “1.27” or “2.5” etc.
4. Go to the bulk section and see what you want. Write the product code (sku) number on the 2nd piece of tape. Then write the description on the 3rd (ex. Oatmeal) and the date on the fourth (9/15.)
5. Now fill it up! If you are using an overhead bin, you will need the funnel on the top of the jar so you don’t drop stuff all over the place. Open and close the lever quickly and in small spurts. You don’t want to overfill the jar. If you are using the little shovel, we’ve found it easiest to let half the stuff go in the jar, half back into the bin while scooping. This also keeps you from spilling.
6. Put the lid on it and put it in the box. Repeat with the other jars.

When it’s time to checkout, show the jar to the cashier. They may not know how to put the tare into the register properly. Have them call your new friend the store manager so they can show them how to do it. You will then get a comment from the cashier like “Wow, this is so cool, I didn’t know we could do this. That’s so great of you, etc etc.” Be patient with them – its not all the time people are doing this and they may be new at the job. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the register to make sure the tare is listed correctly, or you may wind being overcharged.

If there is someone bagging, let them know the jars go into your handy box. Putting them into bags is a bad idea – too heavy and they can clink together.

When we get home, we rinse the jars off, let them dry, and put them in the pantry. Here’s the best part: when the jar is empty, we put it in the box, and now we know to get that thing next time we’re at the store! Don’t have to make a list or anything. Neat huh?