How To Start Plastic Free Grocery Shopping
Plastic Free Grocery Shopping can sometimes be difficult. Yet it is important to make small changes in daily life. So also when shopping! In this article I will tell you step by step how to start plastic free shopping.
More than 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. As a result, many animal species are threatened.
Turtles get caught in plastic bags (resulting in their death), whales are found with huge amounts of plastic in their bellies, while seabirds pick up the plastic pieces to take them to their chicks.
More than 90% of all seabirds have plastic pieces in their bellies. They confuse plastic with food.
Plastic is bad for our health
Plastic is not only a major problem for wild animals. It also enters our food chain.
Microplastics are found in tap water, bottled water, seafood, fish and even in organic food. Plastic pollution is toxic to human health and leads to cancer and reproductive problems.
Time for action!
A lot of plastic can be found in supermarkets in particular. Almost everything is packed in plastic. Super difficult not to use it!
Difficult, but not impossible. In this article I will tell you exactly what you need to know about plastic free grocery shopping!
What do you need?
To produce as little waste as possible with your groceries, you need a number of things that can be useful during shopping!
Reusable Grocery Bags
Okay, easy peasy. We now already know this one. Hopefully it is important to bring your own shopping bag when you go shopping!
Instead of asking for a plastic bag each time at the checkout, you simply bring your own. Who knows, you already have them at home! Check this before you buy a new one. In stores you can find very nice, original.
Small Shopping Bags
Do you know those plastic bags that you can find at the fruit and vegetable department or at the bakery in your supermarket? Those bags that you use once and then throw away? These bags bring a lot of pollution and waste.
For plastic free grocery shopping, you can easily choose for a reusable alternative!
I made grocery bags with my grandmother from leftover fabrics that were still in the wardrobe. If you get along well with a sewing machine, this is a fun project for unique bags!
You can also find these bags online or even in supermarkets! I bought a few extra at Albert Heijn. Old pillowcases also work well for breads, vegetables and fruit.
Jars
Pots can be used to store products such as coffee, tea, nuts, berries, pasta, grains and, for example, beans. It is also nice in your house 🙂
Wash empty pots and save them so they don’t get wasted. This way you can use them again for other things!
Plastic Fever
At first glance it will seem as if everything is packed in plastic, but try to look for fruit and vegetables that are not packed in plastic.
It may take you a little more time in the first few times and you need to adjust your recipe a bit on packaging-free products, but with time this will automatically become automatic.
Embrace the failures
The first time it will certainly not go perfectly and you will still come home with the necessary plastic. This is completely normal and this does not mean that you have failed on your mission!
You are learning and changing. This takes time. Believe it will get a little better every time and be super proud that you are making a difference!
Best place for plastic free grocery shopping
On markets you can find a lot of local, fresh, packaging-free products. This is of course ideal if you are producing less waste! In addition, there is always a cozy atmosphere and you have a lot of choice. You can walk around and discover new things.
I always feel that the people who have a stall at the market have a passion for what they do and the food they sell. There is a lot of love involved! That makes the food even more fun to buy.
If you have access to a market nearby, this is a super option next to the supermarket.
Shop Local
Sometimes products are flown all over the world before we can eat them. This costs a lot of energy and has a lot of negative impact on the environment! Therefore try to shop as many local products as possible.
Packaging Free Stores
There are various stores where you can easily bring your own packaging. This article contains a list full of this type of stores and supermarkets. Because you can bring your own packaging, you avoid unnecessary waste! Read more….
Go by bike!
Perhaps one of the most important, take the bike! If you have a car it is often tempting to drive back and forth just as quickly.
Yet you prevent a lot of pollution if you take the bike instead of the car. Maybe this is not going fast, but hey … Take your time, become aware of your surroundings, take it easy, enjoy nature and enjoy a bike ride!
Cars are polluting and use fossil fuels. They cause global warming with forest fires and all other nasty things. Remember, What’s good for nature is good for you <3
Do you want to stay informed of all tips about a sustainable life? You can find me on Instagram (@emmawouterson), Facebook and Pinterest! You can also always leave a comment under the blog posts!
Good Vibes,
Emma
