Learn how to modify your shopping habits to create less waste. Join us as we help you plan and make decisions about packaging while going through different departments of a grocery store.

• Friday January 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
  
  

Learn more about how food is wasted and what we can do about it. We will cover the basics on when and why food is wasted at home as well as practical tips to start reducing food waste today.

• Tuesday, February 16 from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, February 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
  
  

RSVP

Please RSVP on the Facebook events for January 15, February 16, or February 19 or by emailing your liaison.

Full schedule of workshops

You can find the full schedule of workshops on the participant web page.

Remember! You agreed to attend four of the six monthly workshops, and we now have just four workshops left. Contact your liaison if you have any questions about upcoming workshops.

None of us plan to go to the grocery store to buy garbage, but that is effectively what happens.

Groceries are one of the main sources of packaging waste entering our homes, and therefore, they provide a great opportunity to make changes.

No matter where you buy your groceries and household products, you can take steps to bring home less packaging along with them. 

Plan before you shop

Like with most low-waste actions, planning is an important piece of the process. Start by taking an inventory of the food you already have at home in your refrigerator and cupboards and plan your meals around food that needs to be used up. Once you’ve done that, make a list of what you need to get.

Prepare a shopping kit that includes reusable bags, produce bags, and containers for bulk items if they are allowed at your store to help you prevent waste while you shop. Reuse something you already have or make your own grocery bags and produce bags before buying them new (look online for simple sewing patterns and no-sew options).

Put your grocery list and shopping bag kit somewhere that is hard to miss. They can only help you prevent waste if you remember to use them!

Once you’re in the store, pay attention to the packaging that comes with the food you are buying. Consider if it is recyclable or compostable and if there are different options for purchasing the product. For example, see if you could buy an item in a different brand or size, buy fruits and vegetables loose instead of wrapped in a bag, or get snacks in a family-size bag rather than individually wrapped. 

Other waste reduction options

Sometimes packaging is hard to avoid, but it can help to start thinking beyond what is in front of you. You might consider other places to buy a product, such as at a farmers’ market or through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription. If it fits within your budget, learn to buy in bulk using your own containers at a co-op grocery store.

For those of you who love to cook, you might try to make some of your own prepared items such as condiments. See the recipes section of the Zero Waste Guide (PDF) for some ideas. If something you just can’t live without only has highly packaged options, consider it more of a treat than something you buy as a staple.