Bulk Buying

I like Costco - a lot - for many reasons. For starters, it's hysterical to me to see things in giant sizes. (In contrast, I'm tickled to see everyday products in really teeny tiny sizes as well.) I can always find a stellar deal. The meats are fresh. Finally, buying bulk for many household items cuts down on alot of waste.

For those who don't have a fancy handsoap holder, but instead go out and buy a $4+ plastic bottle every time they run out, consider buying a plus-sized container of DIAL and refilling that plastic bottle. OR invest in a fancy handsoap holder that matches your birthday and just refill the liquid soap. Either way, you are reducing your plastic usage. Same goes for detergent. It's hard to work with a big 30lb jug of TIDE, but save your old, smaller container and fill it up so you can wash with ease.

The other wonderful thing about shopping at at a Costco (BJ's or Sam's Club) is that there aren't any paper or plastic bags. I'm gonna come clean here and admit that I do use plastic bags. I have two adorable dogs who get walked three times a day, and I need to dispose of their waste or my neighbors will be mighty upset. While this may be a sin (please make some room for me in the Un-Green Confessional), I reuse...and I reuse sooo much...from the bags my newspapers come in those that hold my produce...even the empty bag that holds my Thomas' English Muffins. Anyway, at Costco, I feel little guilt (except for the cherry pie i must have). I'm fortunate enought to toss all of my bulk buys in the car and then stuff my reusable bags with my purchases when I'm ready to transport into the home. I take no extra boxes from the store and recycle every box my goods are packaged in.

I'm curious as to how people shop for groceries these days. I've gone from suburan to rural to urban in the last years and my shopping habits have changed dramatically. For the first time ever, I'm doing less grocery store shopping and sticking with Costco-types and local proprietors for produce, baked goods and seafood. Again, I'm fortunate enough that I live in urban and super-ethnic community where fish markets, butchers and bakeries abound. While my plastic bag consumption is down these days as is car usage, my takeout consumption is up. I am living with styrofoam container sin as My Greenest Hour brethren recently blogged.

How do other shop? What grocery store sins will you confess?

Comments

[Cristina]

I have a Costco membership but I don't use it too much, only because my family is pretty small still so we don't need to buy that much in bulk. I do almost all of my shopping at Trader Joes. I love that I don't have to worry about high fructose corn syrup being in what I'm buying - LOL - and that they have so many USDA organic items at low cost. I also get organic fruit from a CSA which I love doing.

Great blog, by the way. Congrats on launching it! Let me know if you want to join our Green Mom Blogroll.

[annien]

Yes, Cristina - we'd love to join. THANKS.