Reducing Food Packaging Waste

Consumers encounter so much packaging when shopping in grocery store chains, even when shopping for produce. Looking at my recycling bin, I frequently see plastic clamshells for greens like spinach and arugula. Despite other options to buy greens at Whole Foods, I seem to gravitate toward the plastic clamshells because they seem “cleaner” - the labels all say that the produce has been washed - even triple washed! - and the baby spinach all looks uniform and easy to eat. 

I know that it is absolutely irrational to think that these greens are cleaner or better than regular spinach. Local spinach from a farmer’s market may actually be fresher. Buying locally is certainly better for the environment by reducing transport, spoiled food, and packaging. 

I am trying to do better and to do my part to reduce packaging waste when I purchase food. I was inspired to reduce my waste after reading this blog, “Trash is for Tossers,” which is about living a waste-free life http://www.trashisfortossers.com/. 

Here are a few strategies I am employing in my effort to reduce all of my packaging waste.

•        Buy mostly produce. Produce is typically sold in its whole state and without packaging. I find a lot of plastic casing with blueberries, but local farmers’ markets are good places to find blueberries outside of plastic packaging.

•         Buy from farmers’ markets. Besides offering items that are often cheaper, in season, and fresh, farmers may not package their foods in plastic. Farmers may also offer flexibility to purchase products with your own bags. A store like Whole Foods probably won’t allow you to refill an old egg carton, but a farmer might.

•        Shop in bulk. Many grocery store chains offer bulk food bins and bulk nut butters, oils, spices, and honey. The key to reducing waste in this space is to bring a mason jar for each item you plan to buy in bulk. Make sure to save one jar so the cashier can weigh the container for “tare” – he/she will subtract that weight from all of your bulk goods to charge the right price.

•          Bring reusable bags. Besides the regular reusable bag for all groceries, Amazon sells small cloth bags that you can use to bag produce. These are great for buying spinach in bulk (not in the clamshell) from a regular grocery store.

•         Use reusable containers and utensils. Besides reusable water bottles, consider buying things like yogurt in bulk and portion it into mason jars or glass jars when you are on the go. It’s also very easy to bring your silverware and a small cloth napkin to eat (I use these instead of paper towels for cleaning my kitchen too).

•          Make your own. I grow small herbs in terracotta pots, which is much cheaper than buying them constantly, and I can use just as much as I need without wasting the rest. I have been buying kefir (a drinkable yogurt) in the bottle from the store, but I am excited to try out this recipe from my family friend from Charleston, Dr. Ann Kulze. You can reuse kefir grains, too. http://drannwellness.com/how-to-make-kefir-at-home/