Low-waste grocery shop - What & Why

This includes planning meals, bringing reusable containers, and choosing unpackaged or minimally packaged options whenever possible.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, single-use plastic packaging from supermarkets and grocery stores has contributed to over 82 million tons of waste, with over 40% of all plastic waste originating from packaging. Additionally, U.S. retail stores generate roughly 16 billion pounds of food waste each year.

To address this concern, many low-waste grocery stores have risen in popularity in the last several years. A low-waste grocery store focuses on eliminating or heavily reducing packaging in the items they offer, encouraging customers to bring their own containers for product refills as well as their own reusable bags. This aims to reduce both the plastic usage from regular grocery stores and the amount of food waste, by offering items in bulk and avoiding expiration dates with quick turnarounds. Additionally, these businesses typically aim to sell locally sourced items and engage in composting efforts.

Strategy for low-waste grocery shop and its customers

1. Planning and Preparation:

   • Plan meals and make a shopping list: This helps you buy only what you need, reducing impulse buys and potential waste.
   • Cook more meals at home: This minimizes takeout and food waste associated with restaurant packaging.

2. Bringing Reusable Containers and Bags:

   • Bring your own reusable bags and containers: This eliminates single-use plastics and helps with bulk shopping.
   • Consider reusable produce bags: These are great for buying loose produce and can be washed and reused.

3. Choosing Minimally Packaged or Unpackaged Options:

   • Opt for loose produce over pre-packaged: This avoids unnecessary plastic packaging.
   • Look for bulk food options: Many stores have bulk bins for grains, nuts, seeds, and other dry goods.
   • Choose recyclable packaging when necessary: If you need to buy pre-packaged items, opt for glass, metal, or paper over plastic.
   • Avoid small, wasteful items: Try to avoid twist-ties, bread tags, and other packaging that often ends up in the trash.

4. Making Mindful Choices:

   • Consider local and seasonal produce: This reduces transportation distances and supports local farmers.
   • Be mindful of storage: Proper storage can help extend the shelf life of your groceries and reduce waste.

5. Other ideas to cut down waste:

   • Provide tips to regrow herbs: You can buy herbs once and regrow them from cuttings, reducing the need to buy them repeatedly.
   • Encourage joining a local zero-waste community: This can provide support and resources for low-waste living.

Case Study: Lierer’s Market in Cincinnati

Neighbors Bryan Lierer and Alex Heppner were living in Northside in 2022, disappointed in the area’s lack of walkable and sustainable grocery stores. While the two were working in different industries at the time — Lierer in video production and Heppner in social work — they took it upon themselves to find a solution.

Lierer and Heppner took a major step toward their vision in April 2023 when they signed a lease for their own low-waste grocery store. Nearly a year later, in March 2024, Lierer’s Market officially opened, bringing their dream of a sustainable, community-focused grocery store to life.

We wanted a place that reflected our commitment to sustainability, transparency, and minimizing waste,” Heppner explained. “We spent nearly a year carefully researching different products, evaluating companies and brands to ensure they aligned with our values.

Lierer’s Market serves two key purposes for its founders: it provides Northside residents with a new place to shop and prioritizes sustainability by challenging the traditional single-use systems found in standard grocery stores.

Northside is considered a food desert,” Heppner said. “The nearest grocery store is two miles away, which may not seem far, but if you don’t have a car, transporting groceries becomes a challenge. That’s why we felt it was crucial not only to offer refills for home and personal care items but also to bring more food options to the neighborhood—while doing so in a sustainable way.

Lierer’s Market specializes in refillable pantry staples and personal care items, offering everything from canned beans, oats, pasta, and flour to laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Most products are organic, non-toxic, and packaged with minimal or no waste.

Source: News from Citybeat