Ecological benefits of bulk shopping

Buying in bulk CAN be better for the planet… if you do it this way….

1. buy stuff in bigger packaging

I bought a 5 galleon pail of powder laundry detergent 3 years ago . it’s good for 1100 loads. this is less packaging, and it lowers emissions on transporting a bunch of smaller containers every couple months or so because it has lasted me years now.

2. if you buy from the bulk bins/ refilleries and bring your own containers.

I bring my reusable produce bags to the grocery store and fill what I need. When I get home I empty them out and fill my reused glass jars and Tupperware containers. I label them. this cuts down on packaging and is more sustainable.

I have a bottle of body wash I keep in my shower for guests. I have gone to the refillery and refilled that container twice now. So in this way I save on packaging and it’s more sustainable. (I use a bar of soap.)

I used to get my dish soap containers refilled at the refillery. Now I buy powder to gel dishsoap.

Now my question is…. is buying from the bulk section at a grocery store automatically more sustainable than buying a package of the same thing? If I use a plastic bag provided by the grocery store am I doing less harm Than just buying a pre packaged bag of lentils?

yes it is for me, because I save those plastic bags from the grocery store for my sister who uses them as dog poop bags. the pre filled bags are made of a different plastic and are harder to reuse.

but if you don’t bring your own containers or bags or reuse the bulk bags as dog poop bags, do you really save on waste just because you went to the bulk bin aisle?

Is it more sustainable just because it is the bulk foods aisle?