Plastic Free July - Food Shopping
As I'm sure I have said before when you buy something, be it food, drink, clothes or household items , you are voting with your money. Every purchase is a vote. Consumer demand does have an impact, if more people buy the unpackaged mushrooms, then you are creating a higher demand for the unpackaged mushrooms than the ones in a box with plastic wrap! The more we do this the more businesses, brands and people notice and will stock less of the bad stuff and more of the good stuff!
how can you help make a difference when you go to the shop?
Let's break it down into categories.
Supermarket shops:
Buy the loose fruit and vegetables over those in packets, you will have to be strict and have a lot of willpower at first. This might restrict your usual choices and completely depend on the shops that you go to, but it's likely you will eat more fruit and veg you wouldn't normally eat, seasonal, local, or more tinned. For example, I'd buy fresh chillies at Forest Stores as I know they're sold loose. It's all about going to the shop you need or buying the plastic free items and adapting your meal plans to what is available. Don’t forget to skip past those horrid plastic bags by the fruit and veg section and take your own. Any old bag will do, or a paper one, especially as you’ll only end up putting your groceries straight into the fridge or fruit bowl when you get home.
Jars, jars, jars. I can't emphasise this enough. Pasta sauce? Ketchup? Fruit? Mayonaise? Chilli sauce? Get it all in a JAR!
Buying in jars is the best option as glass is the best material to be recycled due to the fact that it never loses its quality. Reuse the jars for refilling, storing leftovers in the fridge or for freezing. I was in the Co-op recently and picked up what looked like the glass bottle of sweet chilli sauce, then realised it was just a sturdy plastic one. Always double check to ensure you're choosing glass.
Tins! I recently bought some peas in a tin instead of a bag of frozen peas. There's also a huge choice of beans, fruit and all sorts of options in tins instead of plastic. Anything in tins in multipacks with plastic wrap holding them all together.... just stay clear of them.
Finding frozen food in cardboard boxes is also a really easy tip. I love getting boxes of potato waffles instead of chips in a bag! Things like sausages, burgers and ice cream all plastic free!
It's a bit like a game of hide and seek for the plastic free stuff, but it is there when you have a closer look.
Zero Waste Stores:
As many of you know I work at a zero waste shop that you can buy items package free, by taking your own containers, or using paper bags. There are so many other little zero waste stores around the world! I urge you to check out the following websites to see if there is a zero waste shop near to where you live. It's amazing so many people don't even know they have one not far from them.
Beeswax Wrap Zero Waste Shop map
To be able to buy refill products, it is a massive game changer. Did you ever buy an item for a random recipe that you now have a stash of in the cupboard? Zero waste shopping allows you to buy exactly how many grams you need. This saves space in your kitchen cupboards, makes space for the food you do eat most frequently, and prevents unnecessary food waste (a whole other problem, but we’ll talk about this later!).
Cooking & Baking:
This might sound a bit simple but cook and bake from scratch. Try to avoid buying ready meals, but if you do need to then ensure that the packaging IS recyclable. Cooking can help you learn new skills, boost your mood, encourage healthier eating and help reduce your carbon footprint all at the same time. Eating less meat too can dramatically reduce your impact on the environment. I am vegetarian, now starting to eat considerably more vegan foods and I can already tell from the cooking that I have been doing, and avoiding plastic, that I am eating healthier foods and being considerably more creative in what it is I do make. Whilst being plastic free, the transition to eating more vegan food does have its challenges. For instance, dairy free butter comes in a plastic tub which I will reuse for refilling, storing leftovers, snacks or food in the freezer.
