How to Shop at a Zero Waste Store For Complete Beginners

There is no perfect way to live a zero waste lifestyle but having convenient shops that carry zero-waste products can help us to make small steps toward creating less waste.

There has been an increase in stores that are geared towards helping their customers reduce their waste by offering refill options and eco friendly swaps of everyday items. Instead of buying new containers every time we go to the grocery store we can bring our own container and just refill it! 

Since this way of shopping is a bit different than standard American shopping I wanted to offer the steps I found helpful as I have transitioned to shopping at my local zero waste store so that you can make the most of your zero waste shopping experience!

This post is all about the best tips for shopping at a zero waste shop to lower your environmental impact.

What is a zero waste store?

A zero waste store sells items in bulk to help consumers reduce their use of packaging. Zero waste stores also sell reusable items that help consumers minimize single use plastic and other packaging.

 Zero-waste shops offer refills on grocery items, household goods like laundry detergent, dry goods, hand soap, beauty products and even pet wash!

Aside from refills these shops sell goods that can be reused multiple times which eliminates the need for single use items such as paper towels, plastic straws or sandwich bags which reduces plastic waste. 

It is a really cool concept! Of course bars of soap in paper packaging have been around for a while and life without single use plastic existed before now but in today’s world it really is convenient to have a centralized spot that offers a more eco friendly way to shop. 

Practical Tips on Shopping at a Zero Waste Store

1. Make a list of what you NEED and adopt a minimalist mindset

A big part of living more sustainably is also adopting a minimalist mindset. All of the zero waste shops I have seen have been aesthetically impressive and sell beautiful items. They really do make me want to buy everything and change the world with all of my new found treasures.

BUT that is a bit counterintuitive. The whole point of these shops is to reduce waste so if you buy things you do not need it is defeating the purpose and creating more clutter in your home.

This could result in potentially more trash going to the landfill when you realize you actually didn’t need the extra item.

It can also be easy to overbuy bulk items but then not use everything and it expires. Accidents happen but going in with a plan and a minimalist mindset can be a great way to make the most of your trip!

2. Choose an area of your home or lifestyle that you want to focus on incorporating more sustainable swaps

Be mindful to not completely overhaul your life and habits too quickly. The goal for adopting a more sustainable lifestyle is that, well it is sustainable. Start with one area of our home or life that you can incorporate more plastic free swaps and then add on as you go.

Your kitchen is a great place to start with in order to reduce waste in your home. Many homes create the most waste in this area because of food waste and plastic food packaging. If you try to tackle too many areas at once (bathroom, clothing, food/kitchen etc.) then you could get overwhelmed and start to feel hopeless.

I have never really been a fan of paper towels so using a kitchen cloth is just fine. At zero waste stores they sell Swedish dish cloths that absorb lots of water just like a paper towel. Although these are cool and are a great eco-friendly swap they do not really make sense in my kitchen for now. Right now, using a simple kitchen towel works fine for me.

To avoid over spending, creating clutter and simply consuming more than I need it is helpful to access what I can reuse or repurpose at home rather than going out and buying something I do not really need, even if it is a zero waste product.

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3. Collect your reusable bags & reusable containers  

I feel like the easiest zero waste swap is the reusable grocery bag! And of course you can’t forget your own bags when stopping by the zero waste store. Cloth bags are so easy to find these days. I know I have even gotten a few free reusable bags from different events or workshops I have attended. 

Next, make sure you pack some of your own containers to fill your goodies in. Make sure they are clean and ready to fill up.

Bonus tip: some zero waste stores accept containers as a donation if they are clean and can be used by someone else to refill. Check and see if your zero waste store does the same!

4. Reuse containers you already have

It is way more eco friendly to reuse jars you already bought rather than going out and buying brand new containers just to use for the refill shop. 

I like to reuse old jars from pasta sauce, peanut butter, mason jars etc. Sometimes you have to wash them a few times to get the smell out or run them through the dishwasher.

It is always nice to have empty jars on hand so that when you need to run to the bulk bins you are prepared.

5. Choose the right zero waste containers to make the process seamless 

Pouring coconut oil from the jar into your hands gets annoying after a while and can be quite messy. Think about when you get your refills how it will be easiest to use these items in your everyday life.

• I have found that liquids are best in pumps.
• Glass jars are best for small items or things that can be scooped i.e. toothpaste tabs.
• A dishwasher block needs some sort of bowl to rest in.
• Dry foods like beans need a jar.
• Fresh bread needs a reusable bag.

You get the idea. Zero waste shopping takes a little bit more thinking up front to figure out the most efficient way to implement it all in your lifestyle and daily routines. 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 5 Important Things I Don’t Buy Any More Thanks To The Zero Waste Lifestyle (Saves Money Too!)}

6. Locate your local zero-waste store or bulk section at your grocery store and head to the shops!

Hopefully all of the preparation tips were helpful earlier in this post and you are feeling ready to find some amazing zero waste swaps.

Before you start looking around I would suggest weighing all of the containers you brought.

Even if you do not end up using all of them you do not want to accidentally fill up without knowing the weight of your reusable containers.

Once you have weighed your container make sure to write the weight directly on the container (with a wax pencil) or on the store provided tag.

6. Then start shopping! 

I like to buy a small portion of a product before purchasing a full containers worth of product.

It is a story for another day but one time I did get an allergic reaction to a laundry detergent I used at a zero waste store. That is not to deter you but just to say if you have the opportunity to try just a bit of the product before buying a months worth then do it! That is a great benefit to zero waste shops. 

Once you have everything filled up and maybe found some other sustainable swaps go ahead, and make your way to the register. 

They will weigh your refills and determine the cost. Something to note about this is that unlike normal grocery stores you do not know the price of the item until you get to the register (unless you are calculating as you shop).

Of course there will be a tag on the bulk item that says how many dollars per ounce/pound etc. and you can calculate it. Once you start going more often you will get better at gauging how much you need. 

Then you are all set! Hopefully you brought your reusable bags to take home all your goodies. 

 Bonus tips 

• Don’t worry if you did not bring your own containers or you see something you want and don’t have a container for it. Most zero waste shops have containers to purchase.
• After shopping it is helpful to the store and the earth if you post a photo on social media tagging the store. It helps to get the word out there about the low waste movement and you never know who has not heard about the store in your community! If you are not on social media it can also be a good goal to tell as many people as you can about the shop and your shopping experience. In order to keep our zero waste shops in our community we have to support them with not just our dollars but also through spreading the word about them. 
• Don’t fret if you do not have a zero waste store near you-there are online stores to shop at! Packagefree.com and earthhero.com offers some great single use plastic alternatives. Places like Amazon and Target are now starting to carry zero waste swaps but try to support your local shops or shops that are 100% committed to sustainability when possible. 
• Are you feeling super inspired and considering starting your own zero waste store? To learn more about how to start a zero waste store, check out this helpful article here.

What are the benefits of shopping at a zero waste store?

Zero waste shops are not perfect and are not the only answer to the climate crises but they are one piece of the puzzle to help reduce waste and lower our carbon footprint.

• They help individuals reduce their use of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, water bottles, etc. which reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, oceans, forests etc. which can harm the natural environment and animals
• Can help to lower food waste since shoppers can by the exact amount of food they need rather than large
• Many sustainable products in zero waste stores are organic, made in small batches, are made ethically/fair trade etc.
• Encourages shoppers to live a more sustainable lifestyle in other ways outside of just reducing their waste such as composting, mending clothing, gardening etc.
• Encourages a more minimalist approach to shopping and buying essential items rather than overconsumption
• Builds community by bringing like minded people together to share ideas and support each other as they work towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

Do you feel ready to shop at a zero waste store? Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about how to shop at a zero waste store.

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