How to shop plastic free
Our Assistant Manager Justine looks at why and how to shop plastic free. Shared from her blog littlegreenduckie.com
The problem of plastic waste
The scary fact is that every piece of plastic ever made (unless burnt) still exists in some form. That’s 60+ years of plastic and counting. With only 5% of plastic actually getting recycled into something new. This fact goes part way to explaining how 8 million tonnes end up in the oceans each year! The Blue Planet II documentary has brought the impact of all this plastic to the mainstream consciousness like nothing I have seen before. Meanwhile in our supermarkets, almost everything is wrapped in plastic. The #PlasticFreeAisle campaign, by A Plastic Planet, is hoping to change this, campaigning for every supermarket to have a plastic free section. Their research shows 9 out 10 people would like to see this a reality. Here in the UK the government has just pledged to reduce “avoidable plastic” and increase R&D funding to find alternatives. I don’t want to wait for these things to happen, so I have been shopping thoughtfully to reduce the amount of plastic (and other unnecessary packaging) from my food shopping.
How does it work? What do I take?
No need to buy anything new. Save packaging you already have e.g.; jars, takeaway containers, bottles, egg boxes and paper bags. For fruit and vegetables make simple bags from old fabric, search online for inspiration. Or buy from Get Loose, made by volunteers with upcycled fabric. I wish that Onya UK had not stopped making their “weigh bags”. Luckily Australian Onya Life have them, and I have relatives who can bring them for me! But if this is not an option Lakeland have started selling very similar ones made in Sweden. Consider if you need leak proof containers for buying meat, fish, or deli items.
Packaging free shops have scales to tare (check) the weight of containers, before filling. This will be deducted from the final weight of your item.
Benefits of packaging free;
Reduces the amount of waste I am putting in to my landfill and recycling bins.
Less packaging means less CO2 emissions from creating it and transporting it.
Saving me money, only buying what I need.
Cutting down food waste, less leftover bits of packets to be forgotten.
Supporting my local economy. Research on spending by local authorities shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business 63p stayed in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business. I find the biggest range of packaging free items are from small independent retailers.
I have got to know the people who work in my favourite shops. This I feel connects me to my community. It’s easy for them to remember me with my own bags, jars, boxes and bottles.
History & food safety
Remember the bulk bins in the 1980’s? These had the potential safety issues of cross contamination and poor stock rotation. New gravity dispensers mean that these issues are now avoided.
It might be an obvious point, but it is my responsibility to make sure my containers and bags are clean and suitable for the food.
Zero Waste!?
The term “Zero Waste” is used a lot on blogs and social media. People proudly show the tiny amount of landfill (trash) waste they have produced in a year or more.
I feel that this can often seem so unachievable to many people that they don’t see any point in trying to change anything. It can create a lot of “green guilt” and even conflict within the home environment. Everyone’s personal circumstances and local facilities are different. I feel that any reduction I can make in my own waste is a positive achievement. On the other hand I can see that the term makes a great hashtag and call to action.
One thing that the tiny mason jars of “trash” don’t show is the plastic waste up stream. By this I mean the waste that the manufacture, growth, or production of your item has created. This is another reason to buy food that is as un-processed as you can. Here in the UK I bulk food stores currently struggle to get pulses, spices, nuts and seeds delivered plastic free. However the amount of plastic used is dramatically less than the same food packaged in much smaller bags for consumers. So it might not be the full answer, but it’s a step in the right direction. Change takes time, and more people asking for it.
Start here…
Feeling inspired to make some changes to your shopping habits? Try some of these easy wins;
Vist Get Loose! Check out the opening hours, the product list and plan your trip.
Use your own bags for fruit and vegetables.
Politely tell staff to use your leak proof containers, for deli, meat and fish purchases.
Explore your local shops for zero waste offerings, and ask them to consider stocking more loose items.
Add what you find to the Zero Waste app, or Facebook groups, to help others.