For this little project, I also tried a zero-waste store: you can shop dry goods, from nuts to noodles, without packaging and put everything into refillable jars. And there are some options for refillable laundry detergents and other cleaning products – great! What never occurred to me before: when buying packaged goods, you’re also paying for the packaging you’re about to throw away. At shops with unpacked food, you simply pay for the content.
So, I found some good options for waste-free shopping easily. But you know how it is sometimes: after a long day at work, you don’t want to run to three different stores – or you can’t go to the farmer’s market in the morning because you hit the snooze buttons six times. We’ve all been there, and we find ourselves at the supermarket next door, rushing through the dinner shopping list. And that’s when you end up with some extra waste.
This experiment changed the way I shop for food completely. It wasn’t always easy, but it showed me that you just have to come up with new ways to tackle it. I usually went food shopping three times per week, to buy veggies or ingredients for a spontaneous dinner. On this new route, planning is essential – in order to avoid extra waste and extra trips to the store for last-minute buys. Planning ahead may require more time at first but in the end it makes life easier and saves time again – as you don’t need to think about “what’s for dinner?” every single day!
Tackling food was the best way to start for me. Of course, if you’re committed to a waste-free lifestyle it also means looking at the other parts of your life: beauty products are a tough example – and I honestly don’t think I’m ready for this area yet. And while many online shops offer eco-packaging options, there’s still a long way to go. Going waste-free sometimes means you’ll take the least convenient option – but over time, some of these little choices become habits and don’t feel inconvenient anymore.