Everything You Need to Know About Bulk Shopping
Ever wanted to try a refill store, but you weren’t sure where to start? Let’s go over everything you need to know about bulk shopping today!
I understand that not everyone can do this. Maybe you don’t have access to one, or maybe you have allergies and don’t want to risk contamination. I see you! You don’t have to refill shop to be zero waste. The point of this post is to spread the tips I’ve learned over the years for those who do want to try this unique way of shopping!
Check out more ways to shop low waste without having a refill store.
What is bulk shopping?
Often called a “bulk store” in zero-waste lingo, this term can be interchangeable with “refill store,” but there are some differences between the two terms:
Bulk shopping: This is technically when you buy things in large quantities, usually to take advantage of cheaper prices by weight. But this also reduces packaging. Technically, you can shop in bulk while still shopping for items in packaging. You can buy a large 1-pound bag of pecans instead of a bunch of tiny bags of pecans, for example.
Refill shopping: This is probably more what you’re thinking of. Customers bring their own containers to a store that allows them to refill said containers with package-free items. This greatly reduces packaging overall. But it’s not entirely plastic-free. I don’t say that to slander refill stores, I say that so that you’re aware that even the most eco method is not perfect. Items usually arrive at refill stores in some sort of packaging to ensure freshness and cleanliness. While much of this can be reused, not all of it can. Though it still greatly reduces the amount of plastic that we consume as a community.
How to find a refill store near me
Now that you know what you’re looking for, how do you find one of these magical stores? You can try searching for a few keywords on your favorite maps app:
“zero waste store”
“refill store”
“bulk store”
“eco store”
And things like that. But I find it easiest to use the Eco Rate app. This free app allows you to find eco cafes and eco stores near you or while you’re traveling! You can search for which establishment you want to find, and also search for the specific item you need to buy. For example, if you need flour, you can search for stores that carry it plastic-free so that you can bring your own container directly there instead of hunting around store after store.
Still doesn’t work for you? See if your town has a local Co-Op. I noticed my Co-Op was not on the Eco Rate app, but that is where I often refill my own items.
No luck? Here’s what I did when I lived in rural Minnesota: I just went to the Twin Cities every few months and made sure to bring all my jars with me. When I needed to catch a flight, I brought my empty jars and filled them up upon return before heading back to the North Woods. I’m not saying you need to regularly drive 5 hours one direction to refill, but if you’re heading to a bigger city, put it in the plan to refill.
Or, you simply never have to bulk shop. I lived zero waste for 4 whole years without having access to a refill store. It’s possible! Here are my tips for zero-waste grocery shopping without a bulk store.
Bringing your own containers
I’m pretty sure the main goal of refill stores is to reduce waste, so be sure to bring your own containers! Otherwise, yes, you can use their plastic or paper bags. But let’s take that extra step to reduce some waste because reusing is better than recycling!
You can bring just about any container you want: glass jars, bottles, plastic tubs, old sour cream containers, stainless steel boxes, fabric bags, you name it.
But there is one thing that must be done: it has to be clean. This ensures the rest of the process can be hygienic for everyone involved. I like to run my jars through the dishwasher to really get them sanitized if I have time. If not, a quick scrub by hand with soap and water should get the job done.
Ensure your jar is dry as well. This will just make your own goods soggy, and no one wants watery flour or raisins.
If you’re using a repurposed container such as a pasta sauce jar, it is not necessary to remove the label if you don’t want to. But your barcode may cause problems. You can remove just this section, draw over it with a Sharpie, or you can add the store’s sticker labels on top of the bar code so that it doesn’t accidentally get scanned.
Note: WinCo does not allow you to bring your own containers if you have a WinCo near you :(
Note 2: Some refill stores have jar donations! You can take a jar or leave a (clean) jar!
Know what you need
It’s always a good idea to make a list so that you don’t overconsume when you get excited about this new experience. I like to write down items we run out of and mark them with a star on my grocery list. This reminds me that these items need a container when I go shopping, and allows me to have the precise number of containers.
But sometimes you may not have enough jars. You can still go to the bulk store and use their paper or plastic bags available. For your next trip, head to the thrift store first and see if you can thrift some additional jars!
You can also check the store’s website to see what they have available to help you plan your trip.
Weighing your containers
I’m sure you’re concerned about bringing your heavy glass jar and having to pay for the weight of it, right? Lots of people have this question. We can solve that problem by getting the “tare” weight of your container. This is the weight of your jar, totally empty. It is subtracted at the register so that you are only paying for the dry goods and not your container!
My best advice here is to do this at the store. Yes, even if you have your own kitchen scale. Every scale may be a bit different, so I find it best to use what the store uses, so that it’s accurate to their measurements.
Some stores have scales in their refill section for you to weigh yourself. This is where you may find a grease pencil to write on the lid or a sticker to slap on your container and add the weight to. Whatever means the store has, use that to label your jar.
Don’t see any scales, markers, or stickers? Head up front to ask for help! I’ve been to refill stores like Sprouts where they ONLY weigh the containers at the register and the employees do it, not you.
It’s also not a bad idea to head to the front of any new refill store, even if you’re experienced. When I moved here, I had been refilling for well over 4 years. But I still went to the front to clarify that my new store didn’t have any special rules that maybe my old stores didn’t use in the past. Never hurts to check first before doing something incorrectly and regretting it later!
Scoop etiquette
Time to refill!
Every store is going to be different in this department as well. Even amongst the same store the dispensers and scoops may vary. In some sections of my refill store, each bin has a designated scoop. If you see that, use that scoop.
In other sections of my refill store, such as refilling herbs, there is a jar of clean scoops and a jar of dirty scoops. Be sure to use a clean scoop for yourself and place it in the dirty bin! Don’t add dirty scoops to the clean bin!
Is the spoon/scoop too big for your jar? See if they have some funnels. Pretty much every refill store I’ve been to has some. I also use the funnels when I use the dispensers, as they are also often too big for my jars.
Speaking of, don’t let your jar touch dispensers, scoops, or other communal equipment. This is really where a funnel can come in to maintain cleanliness. Yes, this is the case even if you just pulled your jar out of the dishwasher. It’s just common sense to spread as few germs as possible.
Liquid Refills
Learn from my mistake! Liquid refills are by ounce and not by weight. The first time I got olive oil, I took the tare weight expecting it to be priced by weight. I got to the register and was told it was actually by ounce, and my jar’s label had been removed, so we just had to guess. I felt so bad!
If you have an unlabeled jar you want to refill with soy sauce or soap or maple syrup, you can fill the jar with water and pour the water into a liquid measuring cup to get the ounce measurement. Write this on a store label or with a grease pencil.
If you can’t tell if the item you want to buy is by weight or by ounce, just ask!
Labeling your jars
Alright, your jar has been weighed, you filled it with some chocolate chips, now what? How do they know at the register what you put in your jar?
It’s time to get the PLU Number. This is the Price Look-Up Code. You can usually find it very easily on the front of the bin you got your items from. This is especially important if the store has more than one of the same thing, such as dark chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips, and they look identical.
Wherever you labeled your jar with the tare weight, add the PLU # to this area as well so that the cashier can find it easily. Write it clearly and legibly. Do this with all of your jars before heading up to check out!
Keep in mind, my experience is only in the US and only in 4 states. These rules and labels may vary depending on where you are in the world. When in doubt, ask for help.
Prevent food waste
While most of the bulk items are dried goods and dried goods can last literally years, it’s also important to be mindful of food waste. If it’s an item that you don’t use a whole lot of, take only what you need for that recipe. It can be easy to overconsume here as the dispensers flow and you’re excited about scooping!
You can also use available scales to help you get the correct amount. If you only need a pound of rice for a recipe, use the scales to help you get just 1 pound…give or take a few.
When you get home, be sure to store them in ways to help them last as long as possible, too. If you use bags made of plastic, paper, or cloth, they may let air in. If you want something to be shelf-stable as long as possible, try a glass jar or an airtight container. It may also be a good idea to write the date on the label if it’s something you plan to keep for a long time!
Keep an eye on the register…
Ready to check out? Head on up to the front with your labeled containers (again, with the Tare weight and the PLU #). During checkout, it’s not a bad idea to be mindful about what the cashiers are ringing up. In this video, in which I wanted to compare the cost of refilled herbs to herbs you can get pre-packaged, I didn’t realize until I got home that I was charged for the weight of the rosemary jar. I could’ve gone back, and I probably would’ve if they’d done it to multiple containers.
Accidents happen. If you notice a discrepancy, it’s alright to ask questions, just be kind! If you’re at the register and notice something lightweight costing a lot of money, you could say, “Excuse me, it looks like that dried basil rang in at half a pound, I don’t think that’s right. Do you think you could re-weigh it and re-input the tare weight?”
Perhaps they did enter something wrong. Perhaps they didn’t see your tare weight. Or perhaps you misread how much the item cost…this happened to us just this week when we misread how much bar soap cost and paid $28 for 3 bars of soap…oops.
We live and we learn on both sides of the cash register. Again, just be kind!
What gives…why is it still so expensive?
I get tons of comments about this…I can’t afford a refill store. Why does it cost so much?
Yeah, some items are going to be more, which feels weird since you’re not paying for packaging.
First, some items are always cheaper, and that is usually herbs and spices. I paid 50 cents for refilling my dried basil, and in the pre-packaged section, it cost over $5!
But other things we buy, like dish soap, lotion, chocolate chips, and more, do cost extra.
Well, unlike what you’re used to buying at Walmart and Target and Amazon, this eco business has standards. It costs more money to pay people a fair wage. It costs more money to get your brand certified as Fair Trade or another eco certification. It costs more money to farm with sustainable practices than it does to pollute the earth.
It may also be that you bought more than you’re used to. Your container you brought, may be larger than the jar of peanut butter you’re used to buying, and therefore, it costs more.
So, no, your local refill store is not scamming you. That is what all of our goods should cost. But wasteful and unethical companies exploit people every step of the way to include you. The fault is not small, and eco businesses, the fault is wasteful megacorporations that set this unethical standard. Learn more about why shopping small is better for the planet here.
I have a full video coming on this topic soon, but hopefully that answers that question for now.
Again, if you can’t afford to refill shop, that is okay. You do not have to do this habit to be considered zero waste. Work with what you have access to and check out my full series all about zero waste on a budget!
Thanks so much for reading along. I truly appreciate your time and wish you the best of luck on your refilling journey!
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
