A shopper can save an average of 89 percent by purchasing organic bulk foods. Especially in the bulk foods aisle of a grocery store. That’s according to a recent study conducted by the Portland State University’s Food Industry Leadership Center (FILC). As well as on behalf of the Bulk is Green Council (BIG).
Organic bulk foods are more environmentally friendly than their packaged counterparts on a number of fronts. One which is just another reason to go green at your local grocery store next month.
To arrive at the overall average cost savings of 89 percent, researchers made cost comparisons between organic bulk foods and organic packaged foods in a number of key categories, including coffee and tea, nut butters, flour and grains, dried fruit, spices, beans, pasta and confectioneries. The percentage of savings when buying in bulk differed from category to category, but averaging the savings across all categories resulted in an average of 89 percent lower costs compared to packaged counterparts.
The Bulk is Green Council (BIG), a non-profit advocacy group that spreads awareness about the environmental and economical benefits of shopping in the bulk foods section wrote me so they can share three easy “Go Green” at the grocery store tips for Earth Month this April.
- Reduce waste! Buy just the amount you need – Whether it’s a pound or a pinch, put a stomp on food waste by buying just the amount you’ll use. Pay attention to the amount you select (or scoop, in the bulk foods section). Especially when experimenting with a new spice in your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe. As well as for stocking up on trail mix for the kid’s lunches. Overdoing it only means you’ll pay, literally. So the next time you rid your cupboard of outdated food.
2.Reuse it and get rewarded! Bring your own bags and containers. Whole Foods and top supermarket chains praise (and sometimes pay) shoppers who use their own bags.
Invest in glass Tupperware or give that empty cottage cheese container a second use. Use it by filling with brown rice from the bulk foods section or a quinoa salad from the deli counter.
Just ask the cashier to weigh your container ahead of time. While you’re at it, BYOB (bring your own bag). If you must go with single-use, opt for paper.
3. Buy natural and organic, whenever possible.
Not only are the pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in non-natural and non-organic foods often toxic to our health. Cause they’ve been linked to cancer and other diseases. As well as they’re bad for the environment. Tainted runoff from conventional farms washes into rivers and lakes, which contaminates waterways and threatens wildlife.
Plus, the added benefits of buying natural and organic don’t have to mean added costs. By buying natural and organic in the bulk foods section of the grocery store, shoppers can pay 30 to 96 percent less on their grocery bill.
Source: Bulk Is Green
