Skip the Plastic at the Grocery Store

Are you ready to move beyond just saying no to the plastic grocery bags at checkout when you shop?  There are SO many other ways you can skip the plastic at the grocery store if you take the time to think about it.  I've been uber-conscious lately of all the grocery products that are typically packaged in plastic and trying to switch to 'better' containers when I buy things. 

The arguments against plastic are many:  it is made from a non-renewable resource, the production process creates pollution, it can leach chemicals into your food, it never truly biodegrades and there's a big, ugly mass of it sitting in middle of the ocean. 

Keep your eyes out in the store - even in categories that are usually packaged in plastic (like juice for instance), you can almost always find alternatives:

Glass- it's easily recyclable and can be reused in your home for so many things. 

• Peanut Butter- Maranatha and Arrowhead Mills are both brands that come in glass.

• Mayo, salsa and other condiments-  Most conventional brands come in plastic jars but some, like Spectrum and Newman's Own come in glass jars.

• Juice - Knudson and Santa Cruz Organics use glass instead of plastic.

• Pasta Sauce - It's especially important to buy tomato products in glass.  The natural acid in tomatoes makes leaching from plastic jars a big problem.

• Oils - Olive oil is commonly sold in glass, while most other oils are usually sold in plastic.  Spectrum uses glass for all cooking oils.

• Milk - You might need to make a deposit on a glass container but bringing it back to be refilled is double good for the planet!

Paper or Cardboard - Recyclable in most areas.  Paper made with recycled content is best of course! 

• Meats- Buy straight from the meat counter wrapped in butcher paper and you'll skip the styrofoam tray and the plastic wrap.
  
• Pasta- Pick the cardboard box instead of that crinkly plastic bag.

• Milk - Paper milk cartons are recyclable in many areas. 
  
• Bread - Fresh bread from the bakery usually comes in a paper bag - and there's no comparison to the plastic wrapped version.

Better yet - make your own, homemade version of many of these foods and skip the packaging altogether! 

Can you think of any other food items that traditionally involve plastic packaging - and a plastic-free alternative?  No doubt I've forgotten a few!

Comments

[Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish]

Oh yay! A plastic post. And I love that you added "make your own." Maybe that part could be bolded!

Would you like to be added to the Plastic-free posse? If so, just label or tag all your plastic-related posts as "plastic" and I'll link to them.

[amy]

nice post! I added it to Kirtsy! xo

[Chris]

Plastic is a fabulous technology, not only does it have many uses, its environmentally safe and biodegradable.

[Suzanne S]

Better yet, find as many products that you can refill as possible. I'm lucky, my co-op in Madison WI has many refill options. I have been rotating the same two glass jars for peanut butter for over 12 years. I've had the same laundry soap, dish soap, honey, lotion, shampoo, evoo, canola oil, molasses and vanilla containers for years as well. Refilling your own containers is way cheaper given that lots of the expense of a product comes from packaging. You just have to be a little organized when you go to the grocery store - I've found it helpful to have two of each containers and take the empty to the store to fill and have in reserve. Also, I agree with MM, there are many better packaging options that avoid plastic, you just have to look - not only for food, but for face products too. I even buy Altoids chewing gum as it comes in a recyclable tin package. Whoever posted that info about plastic being fabulous technology that is environmentally safe is total propaganda and they know it.

[Perfektly Mary]

I'm so glad you posted this. I was just explaining to my mother in law how part of my efforts to live more earth responsible include what I call pre-cycling. I try hard to make my purchases based off of not only cost effectiveness and health, but also how much trash the packaging creates and how recyclable it is. I hadn't thought about avoiding plastic since I assumed it just got recycled.

You mentioned refilling containers... what kind of places do you shop that allow that?

[Chris]

Plastic is totally environmentally friendly; you have all bought into the propaganda perpetrated by the Paper Mill companies to cut down more trees to make paper bags. Friends, think of the spotted Owls nestled in the trees! the little chipmunks burrowing around the forrest floor... We Need Plastic, Plastic saves our forests.

Global Warming is such a myth, its all bogus BS tree huggers and people who are poor or have a shitty income make up to make themselves feel better. I say drive an SUV, guzzle gas... gotta use why we can. I love driving my big SUV and seeing some pansy tree hugger in his gay looking prious... haha ...

[Mindful Momma]

OK Chris - I'm all for free speech but I don't think you're going to win anyone over on this blog.

[Mindful Momma]

Mary - Thanks for your comment! You can refill products your own container from the bulk bins at many stores including Whole Foods, food co-ops and even a lot of traditional grocery stores these days. Food co-ops and natural food stores often also do refills on 'wet' products like peanut butter, oils, soy sauce, honey...as well as shampoo, lotion, laundry soap etc... You can bring your own container from home. Be sure to weigh the container before you fill it so they can deduct the cost of the container. Ask for help if you need it! It might seem hard to get started but once you start refilling products you'll feel good about it!

Suzanne - you are a rock-star refiller!!!!

[admin]

what really concerns me is the focus always seems to be on the consumer. How about a focus on industry and the ridiculous packaging that they seemed to be allowed to continue with? Consumers can only buy what is manufactured and packaged...

[admin]

also: whilst I don't agree with the poster 'chris' above entirely, she/he is partially right about plastics. Most of us reading this article can probably remember when our groceries were packed in paper bags (from non sustainable forests) - so plastic was considered the better alternative. Unfortunately, we humans can't seem to put things in bins and additionally, generally around the world our infrastructure around storm water and storm drains allows this sort of waste to enter the sea eventually etc.

Chris is also slimly correct on petrol consumption - our Western govts want us to consume petrol and it's held back in reserves etc. The electric car was shelved 40 years ago for a reason.

Global warming isn't a myth, it's frightening real - but I can't help but feel our respective economic system is more of an enemy...

[Patty]

Hi...Great post...I love the idea of pre-cycle and how you can make a real difference in some of the everyday simple choices. I used to buy the pre-peeled corn on a styrofoam tray with plastic wrap! I cringe when I think about it now. I am totally with you about the whole plastic thing, the less the better and will definately check out my supermarket for other options.

There is a point though to this whole plastic vs. paper. According to Treehugger plastic bags are better than paper bags (was very surprised at this)...obviously as you point out, less is better regardless of the packaging!

Here is the article if you are interested.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/paper-bags-or-plastic-bags-everything-you-need-to-know.php

[greeen sheeep]

Hey, I see we are fellow Plastic-free Posse members! This was a good plastic post. I also struggle with the ziplock bag addiction. We have two boxes left and then I'm done. Not sure what I will do instead, but I agree with the comments. If they are not in your house you will not use them! Perhaps I will switch to that stash of glass jars I have been saving.

Anyhoo...I tagged your blog in my Monday (Nov 10) post. Check it out to see what it is all about.

[Diana]

I just contacted amazonfresh, the part of amazon.com that delivers groceries here in the Seattle area, and they said they would carry plastic-free products if people suggested them along with the UPC numbers. I was looking for plastic-free cheese and toilet paper and paper towels not wrapped in plastic. If anyone has any ideas, please let them know.

[momentofchoice]

question: are waxed paper or butcher paper (that is usually waxed on one side isn't it?) recyclable? or compostable?

great post by the way, found you through Beth at Fake Plastic Fish!

[Pearlie Mcilvaine]

Thanks to posts like this one 4 to 5 years ago, people are now becoming well aware of the bad side of plastic. In addition, people are being more mindful of the alternative and are looking for better ways to store food. Stores and groceries are little by little prioritizing the replacement of plastic. They’re now using large paper bags for the canned and bottled goods and meshes made of nets for the fresh ones.