Dear bulk, welcome back!

Did you know?

The Kootenay Co-op resumed its bring your own containers bulk service. The very next day, I went shopping with containers to test it out. Good feeling! 

Here is what is available to buy for now:

  • – spices, herbs, teas, flours, seeds, nuts, snacks (bulk section)
  • – dog treats (dog food aisle)
  • – essential oils (health department)
  • – vanilla (cheese department)
  • – sliced meats and on Friday, whole chickens (meat department)
  • – anything from the cafe, including a drink in your mug
  • – more coming.

I bought some chocolate, some hair conditioner,  sandwich meat, and a coffee to test. I also brought extra jars and my cloth bag.  I ended up with a piece of wax paper with my meat but still much less plastic.

Feeling rusty at bulk shopping?

Bring your own clean glass or plastic containers. No need to buy the fancy expensive ones. Reuse what you have.

Before you put anything in them, weigh your containers. You will find the tare station in the bulk section at the back. Write the weight and the code of your item. That’s it!

Bring wide containers or a funnel. I brought a wide mouth Mason Jar and it was almost too small for the bulk tubes, almost made a mess. Wider is easier.

Check for barcodes

If you reuse food containers like a yogurt container or an empty spice jar, make sure to cross off the barcode with a sharpie, as they get scanned at the till.

Reduce!

Have fun while cutting down containers and packaging! Enjoy buying the amount you really need and reduce food waste!

See you in the bulk section!

Less Waste Shopping – Bulk 101

On a rewarding journey!

Going on a less waste journey is really rewarding and a LOT LESS complicated than most people expect it to be. What do you think you can buy in bulk with your own containers? Chips? No. Cheese? Yes! Meat? Yes! Vanilla? Yes! Essential Oils? Yes! Fish? Yes! Dip? Yes! Apple Cider Vinegar? Yes and all in Nelson. At the end of this post, you will find a list of what you can buy in bulk in town.

Hopefully, this list will keep on getting longer. I visited all the stores on the list. You will be surprised by the offer and the choices. Store’s owners are getting on it more and more. Are you ready?

Resisting the change?

Maybe you are inspired by friends and neighbors who produce less garbage? Maybe you want to make changes but for some reason, you keep pushing your start date? Maybe you feel some pressure on your shoulders or guilt about having to do something regarding climate change but, it blocks you instead of giving you the energy to do something. I understand and I’m sending you a virtual hug. No need for these negative feelings. I know it’s action time but the saying Slowly but surely does really apply here in order to create a real change. What about having fun with it? Explore. Be creative. We all have different needs, different strengths, different limitations. Just start with that. I believe in you!

Let’s explore buying in bulk with your own containers! Continue reading “Less Waste Shopping – Bulk 101”