Going grocery shopping is an essential part of life. Whether you’re stocking up on food for the week or just grabbing a few essentials, there are ways to minimize waste while you shop. Here are some tips to help make your next trip to the store as eco-friendly as possible.
The most important step in reducing your waste while grocery shopping is bringing your own reusable bags. Single-use plastic bags can take hundreds of years to decompose, and they often end up in landfills or our oceans, polluting the environment and harming wildlife. By simply switching from single-use plastic bags to reusable ones, you can make a huge difference! If you forget your own bag, many stores now offer paper or reusable options that you can purchase when you check out.
Wherever possible, choose loose produce instead of pre-packaged items. You’ll likely save money this way too! Not only does pre-packaging create unnecessary waste by using extra materials like plastic wrap, but it also means more energy was used in production since additional packaging needs to be made. Additionally, buying loose produce means fewer preservatives and additives in the food you buy since packaged items are often loaded with chemicals that aren’t good for our health either.
Whenever possible, try buying local and organic. Local farms use fewer resources than large corporate farms, so shopping local helps reduce carbon emissions associated with food transportation and packaging. Buying organic produce also ensures fewer pesticides and chemicals end up in our bodies and food supply. So not only are these products better for our health — they help reduce waste too!
Reducing waste doesn't have to be hard or expensive — it just takes a little bit of effort and planning ahead! By following these tips while grocery shopping, we can all do our part to make sure we're living sustainably without having to sacrifice convenience or taste. And if you're looking for recycling centers in New Jersey, All County Recycling is here to help — contact us today!
