How To Build Your Own Zero-Waste Shopping Kit

Did you know that there’s such a thing as a Shopping Kit?
When you start digging deeper into this whole ‘zero-waste’ thing, it can get pretty overwhelming. I get it. It takes time, discipline and also a little creativity. We always try our best and we can do much better if we prepare for it.

Creating your Zero Waste Shopping Kit is simpler than you imagine and it’ll give you the motivation, confidence and feel-good vibe you need to kick off your ZW journey!

With simple hacks and a little planning it all gets easier and you’ll be able to master it in no time.

Building Your Zero-Waste Shopping Kit

1. Reusable Bags

   The first thing to eliminate waste from your shopping is to use your own bags! You can use those sturdy bags you can buy at your local supermarket, make your own or buy some* if you really have to. Find bags that are comfortable to use and are sturdy enough to carry all your produce. Take as many as you may need (better have more than less) as they don’t weigh too much.

2. Reusable Produce or Grocery bags

   One of my favourite zero waste hacks is the produce bags. They are great to carry loose veggies, fruits, grains, pasta, nuts and even bread. I got mine here* but if you want, you can even use those bags where you put your delicate laundry on (just buy some for it), they are usually cheaper but they won’t hold smaller produce such as some types of grains, pastas and nuts. If you are really feeling like it, you can make your own with a thin fabric you have at home. Check out this tutorial to DIY.
   

3. Glass Jars and/or containers

   For those liquids, such as oil, vinegar or bulk soap and shampoo, take your own jars and containers. I usually take a plastic container (which I already have) and take it to the farmers market to buy coconut yoghurt. Check with your local producers to see if you can bring your own as most of them are happy to help. It’s best for you, for them and for the environment. Usually, glass or plastic containers (if you still have them) are best for fragile items such as berries.
   

    

4. Extras

   If you can, take your vine basket, wheel-chart or bike to the supermarket and make your trip truly zero waste. Walking or riding is a great way of making an extra exercise (if you can) and making zero emissions. If that’s something you can’t do at the moment, all good! Try and share a ride or offer a friend to come along, so you can reduce your carbon footprint. Every little bit helps!

Where To Shop Zero Waste?

Most people ask me what’s the best way to shop zero waste and my answer is easy. Go local. Check with your council if there’s any farmers market around you. In Queensland, you can check here. For Australia, find a market here.

My favourite Markets in Brisbane are these:

• Davies Park Markets
• Northey Organic Markets
• Queen St Market
• Milton Markets

My favourite Markets on the Gold Coast are these:

• Miami Organic Markets
• Burleigh Heads Markets
• Know more? Let me know in the comments!

Sometimes you can’t find everything you need in the markets and for those times, I usually visit a bulk shop where I can get most of my food and other products like washing machine powder and other cleaning products, all zero waste. I recommend The Source Bulk Foods, or Naked Foods and sometimes you can even get some produce on the bulk section from supermarkets.

Get your produce bags and use them freely! You can use your groceries bags for all other produce available in the fresh section of the supermarket. If you still shop a lot at supermarkets, try to buy as much produce as possible at the fresh area where you can use produce bags, containers and etc. If you buy bread, meat and other deli products, take your own container and ask them to put your products there and just stick the price on top.

These are my tips to help you start shopping zero waste and saving the environment of thousands of extra plastic that otherwise would go straight to landfill or even worse, to our oceans.

Start your Zero Waste Shopping Kit and get shopping (the conscious way, obviously)!

Peace & Love,

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* If you shop through this link, I will get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It’s my way of maintaining this blog and sharing the things I truly love.