As you move along on your plastic-free journey, a trip to the local bulk shop is a must. It’s great to bring reusable bags so you can avoid plastic bags, but what are you filling your reusable bags with? Most traditional groceries are wrapped in plastic and cardboard. This is where bulk stores come into play.
What are bulk stores?
Bulk stores are stores where you purchase groceries by weight rather than in individual packages. By purchasing by weight, you can bring your own containers and avoid the packaging that normally comes with the product. The bulk shops themselves receive stock in large containers, which they can either keep, or decant into the shop’s bulk bins before returning the original container back to the supplier.
Products you can find at the bulk shop
Bulk shops carry food, snacks, and personal care products. These items typically include:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Flours
- Grains
- Pasta
- Legumes
- Seasonings
- Dried fruit
- Chocolate or yoghurt covered nuts, pretzels, and fruit
- Oils
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Soaps
What to bring to a bulk Shop
When shopping at the bulk shop, you can bring your own jars and bags, or use containers from the shop. Since your goal is to avoid plastic, it’s best to bring your own jars whenever possible. You can use any jars you already have at home: empty, clean glass jars with lids, like from pasta sauce or jam, will do perfectly. If you plan to buy shampoo or conditioner, save an old shampoo bottle, clean it thoroughly and bring it along. We also recommend bringing your own tote bags and net bags as well. There are reusable bags designed for produce and for bulk bin items. For an in-depth guide on reusable bags, be sure to check out our blog post on the topic.
What to expect at a bulk sHop
Your first visit to the bulk store can be a bit stressful if you’re not sure what to expect. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered:
- You’ll need to know the weight of your containers. This is called the tare weight. Since you pay based on the weight, usually in grams, kilograms, or litres, you must first know the weight of your empty container. If you don’t have a scale at home, most bulk stores will weigh it for you. Just stop by the register before starting your shopping. Be sure to write the weight on your jar, bag, or container with a marker.
- Fill up your containers. Bulk stores will have a scoop assigned to each bin. You don’t have to fill your container to the top, just take as much as you need.
- When you’re ready to pay, the cashier will weigh your full container and subtract the tare. This weight will then be multiplied by the price of the product per gram (or kilo, etc).
Bulk stores are popping up all over the place. If you don’t have a bulk-only store near you, don’t worry, more and more supermarkets are including bulk sections to their aisles. We believe that bulk shopping is the way forward!
Do you have a bulk shop near you? Tell us your go-to products in the comments below!
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Your writing is so genuine and heartfelt It’s refreshing to read a blog that is not trying to sell something or promote an agenda