Reduce while shopping

The choices you make at the grocery or department store can make a big difference.

• Buy products such as milk, water and beer in returnable containers.
• Buy the largest-size food packages that you can use without spoilage.
• Buy fresh produce without packaging whenever spoilage won't be a problem. Avoid using plastic bags for purchases such as a couple of cucumbers, bulbs of garlic or lemons.
• Buy economy-size packages of household products you use regularly such as laundry soap, shampoo, baking soda, pet foods, kitty litter, etc.
• When buying paint, pesticides, and other home chemicals, buy the smallest amount that you can for your project.
• Buy grains, beans, cereal, pasta and other items in bulk whenever possible. They can be kept on the shelf for a long time without spoiling. Reuse plastic or paper bags or buy a container once, then refill it from a bulk container.
• Buy products such as fruit juices and drinks, detergents, and automobile windshield washer fluid in concentrate form.
• If storage space is a concern, try sharing bulk purchases with friends and neighbors. You also can extend the "buying-in-bulk" concept to mail-order purchases. Place an order with a group of people to save more on shipping costs and reduce packaging waste.
• If you currently buy food in single servings, try buying the next largest size and storing the leftovers in sturdy reusable containers.

Learn more about buying green.

For more information about reducing waste while shopping, visit reduce.org.