Green Living
The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Grocery Shopping
Ever looked around a grocery store and thought “wow, there’s so much plastic”? From pre-cut fruit in clamshells to cucumbers wrapped in plastic, it can be hard to avoid.
That’s because plastic food packaging makes up approximately 40% of all plastic waste generated globally. The USA, Europe and China generate the most packaging waste.
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But plastic isn’t the only source of waste associated with our food. Food waste is a huge problem too – and it happens on both an individual and retail level.
For example, did you know grocery stores will toss perfectly good produce if it doesn’t meet their ‘beauty standards’? If it’s not the right size, shape, or has even minor blemishes, it’s tossed.
Additionally, Americans waste 40% of all our food – be it through improper storage, buying more than needed, etc.
In today’s economy, everything’s becoming more expensive, and that includes groceries. According to the USDA, in 2026, prices for all food are predicted to increase 3.6 percent. In other words, we – literally – can’t afford to waste anything.
If you want to start zero waste grocery shopping, there’s more to consider than just plastic packaging. Here’s everything you need to know about getting plastic-free groceries, avoiding food waste, and saving money in the process.
what is zero waste grocery shopping?
Zero waste grocery shopping is when you try to reduce waste while buying items like produce and dry goods. And it shouldn’t only account for plastic packaging waste, but food waste too.
You can accomplish this by choosing loose/naked produce over pre-packaged goods. Bringing your own produce bags and tote bags help cut back on single-use plastics.
Choosing imperfect produce or lonely bananas also helps reduce waste. Some grocery stores will even sell wonky or slightly damaged produce at a discount.
It’s also helpful if you have access to bulk bins (aka refillieries). You bring your own containers and fill them with goods like dry beans, spices, and flours. The beauty is getting to take as much or as little as you need.
Farmers markets are also great because most produce is package-free and doesn’t have produce stickers on it. Berries tend to come in paper cartons and they’re not afraid to sell wonky looking produce either.
However, you can still get plastic-free groceries even without access to these shops. Check if your local grocery store has naked produce to choose from.
For other goods, (like pasta, pickles, or rice), try to opt for packaging like glass, paper, cardboard, and metal over plastic. Here’s how to keep your groceries low waste even without bulk bins.
And if you’re still left with lots of packaging, make it a goal to upcycle the containers whenever possible. Reusing plastic clamshells to make crafts or donating them to community gardens is a good start.
Soft plastics can be harder to upcycle and recycle, as they’re not typically accepted via curbside recycling. Check if your local grocery store has a soft plastic recycling take-back program.
And remember, zero waste can (and should) still apply to your actual food! We’ll be discussing creative ways to reduce food waste in the coming sections so be on the lookout.
For a more in-depth look at the zero waste grocery system, be sure to check out my book 101 Tips For a Zero Waste Kitchen.
make a plan
Now that you know what zero waste grocery shopping is, making a plan can help you succeed.
Researching where your nearest bulk bins and farmers markets are located is beneficial. The Refill Collective is a handy resource for finding local refilleries – just put in your zip code and see what pops up!
If they’re too far away (more than an hour’s drive), it may be more efficient to utilize your local grocery store. Here’s everything to consider when shopping for low waste groceries.
budgeting
What does your budget look like? Mapping out how much you’re comfortable spending is important, especially if you’re going to the bulk bins.
For example, maybe you have $150 altogether you’re comfortable spending, but plan on going to both the market and the bulk bins. Consider setting aside $50 for the market, $100 for the rest of the groceries.
It can help to take cash to avoid going over your designated budget. Credit cards are easy to overspend on because you can’t see the money leaving your hands.
And don’t forget to take advantage of discounts, sales and coupons. If you download your local grocery store’s app, or follow them on socials, you may be the first to find out about these deals.
Local farmers may also be willing to lower their prices on slightly bruised produce or even throw in an extra one for free! Don’t be afraid to haggle, especially if you’ve built a rapport.
Here are a few more tips for staying in budget:
- In-season items tend to be less, because they’re more bountiful. Ex: Summer tomatoes over tomatoes in the dead of winter.
- Dry beans and legumes will always be less than pre-cooked, canned versions. Stock up!
- What’s happening in the world can affect market prices – look for more affordable alternatives when this happens (ex: Instead of berries, choose bananas)
RELATED: How I Cut My Grocery Bill to $300 a Month
what to bring
To shop low waste, there are certain items that’ll make your life easier. Here are a few of my all-time favorites.
produce bags
There are all kinds of reusable produce bags, from synthetic to cloth, mesh vs. solid. I personally love mesh cotton produce bags for big leafy greens like lettuce or kale. Solid cloth bags are also great for storing dry beans or grains at bulk bins.
tote bags
You probably have a bunch of these stashed in one of your drawers. Or buried in your closet. If not, ask your loved ones if they’d be willing to part with some – bet they have a bunch too. Use totes to carry all the produce you stash in your reusable produce bags.
jars
If you’re planning on hitting up a bulk store, taking some mason jars (or upcycled empty jars) is ideal. To make sure they don’t clank against one another, position them into a wine bag with dividers – this will keep them stable.
meal plan and prep
Creating a meal plan for the week helps you better understand what to buy on grocery runs.
I suggest planning meals around ingredients over meals. Because who knows what you’ll be craving Tuesday night opposed to Sunday night?
Making a master list of all your favorite recipes can help narrow down what ingredients you may need for the week. For example, I love Mexican food so I know I’ll want a burrito or a taco at least once in the week.
Make sure to write your list down – either on scrap paper or in an app – and stick to it. This will help you prevent impulse purchases.
But always check your fridge first before buying more. Because who needs an extra bushel of carrots floating around?
Once you’ve acquired your ingredients, prepping some of them ahead of time will help you in the long run.
You don’t have to spend a whole day cooking every single meal. Just peeling and chopping your carrots is a good place to start.
Having ingredients chopped and ready to go makes assembling dinner so much quicker – a blessing after a long day at work!
RELATED: My Weekly Meal Planning System That Prevents Food Waste
If you’re into visual content, check out my meal prepping video above! It’ll give you a better grasp on what I mean by prepping ingredients (not just meals).
know how to store your food
This runs into knowing how to store your food (prepped or not). If you take those carrots and just chuck them into your fridge, you may lose them sooner than you can get to them.
Instead, consider chopping and storing carrots in a glass of water in the fridge. This will keep them crisp for much longer and prevent them from going limp. They’re also easier to snack on this way (I love mine with homemade hummus)!
The opposite is true of berries – don’t wash or cut them until ready to eat. You’ll want to keep them in an airtight container.
And speaking of containers, always try to store food plastic-free. I recommend glass snapware, silicone bags, upcycled jars, and metal tiffins.
Where you put those containers matters too. Fridge organization plays a huge role in how long your produce holds up.
For example, you don’t want to store items like berries on the fridge door – that’s the warmest spot in your fridge! Save that space for items like condiments and sauces that won’t spoil easily.
Your crisper drawers are ideal for keeping high humidity (like leafy greens) and low humidity (ethylene-emitting fruits) produce separate. Just don’t overpack them.
RELATED: How to Store Food So It Lasts Weeks
reduce food waste
Now how do you keep all this food from going bad? You cook with it of course! And that means using up everything – from leftovers to odds and ends.
I better not see you tossing out your carrot tops. They taste similar to parsley! You can use them to make pestos or flavor salad dressings.
And that doesn’t just go for carrot tops. There are so many edible parts of vegetables many people don’t know about – strawberry tops, beet tops, celery root, etc. You just have to know how to cook with them.
Adding strawberry tops into smoothies gives you an extra dose of vitamins – plus you don’t even taste them. And I love making salads using beet and radish tops.
Even vegetable peels can be made into things like chips or stock. Doing this not only prevents food waste but also saves you so much money.
For even more ways to use up odds and ends, I have tons of great scraptastic recipes in my book 101 Tips For a Zero Waste Kitchen. Learn how to make strawberry top simple syrup, preserve your lemon peels, and so much more!
RELATED: How to Stop Wasting Food (And Save Money)
I recently challenged myself to save my food scraps for a week! Watch to learn more savvy ways to use up your bits and ends.
compost
If you can’t reuse your odds and ends in a dish, compost them. Because food scraps don’t break down in landfills.
You can do this by simply collecting food scraps in an empty takeout container and keeping it in the freezer. Even an empty plastic sandwich bag works.
Investing in a countertop compost pail with compostable liners helps keep everything clean. Ideally, you’ll want to get one with a charcoal filter to prevent odors.
At the end of the week, you can compost your scraps by utilizing curbside compost or a pickup delivery service. Community gardens and farmers markets will sometimes also accept food scraps.
If you have access to a backyard, you can get a tumbler, DIY a compost bin, or a bokashi compost system. Trench composting is also a simple option (aka, digging a hole and burying your scraps).
It’s also a good idea to brush up on what’s considered compostable. This will vary depending on who is accepting your compost.
If you’re using curbside compost, they often have access to industrial compost facilities that can break down items like meat and dairy. But if you’re backyard composting, you may want to steer clear of those unless using a bokashi method.
Just remember – composting your food scraps should remain a last resort! Always try to give them a second life first.
RELATED: Your Guide to Backyard Composting
What did you think of this guide to zero waste grocery shopping?
If you need more inspiration, consider purchasing my book 101 Tips For a Zero Waste Kitchen. Inside, I teach you how to buy in bulk, avoid unnecessary packaging, upcycle jars, and more.
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