Simple Ways To Limit Your Food Packaging Waste

Whenever I shop I do my best to reduce plastic waste, but carrying a reusable water bottle and market basket just doesn’t feel like enough. Plastic is everywhere. Every time I walk into a market I wonder why everything is covered in so much plastic and packaging. It can feel so overwhelming. I make healthy and environmentally friendly choices, but the packaging doesn’t match the mindset. My favorite mochi ice cream comes in a cardboard box, but when you open the box there is a case of thick plastic encasing the ice cream goodies. My favorite organic frozen fruit pops come individually wrapped in plastic and the frozen fruit for my smoothies also comes in a plastic bag. And why oh why do organic free range eggs comes in the plastic egg cartons instead of the paper pulp ones that are compostable? Even if you’re conscientious about the environmental impact of your choices and go with organic and natural products, the packaging somehow hasn’t gotten there yet. It can be frustrating.

At this point in time it is nearly impossible to go zero waste until all food companies and markets create better packaging and standards for selling products, but we can do our part. We’re not looking for perfection here, but if each and every one of us made a few tiny changes we could make a big impact together. If food shopping with limited packaging is difficult for you too, then these tips can help you lessen your environmental impact and reduce your food packaging waste. Here are just a few of the things I started to do and you can adopt into your lifestyle too. I have also included a few Amazon affiliate links to the reusable products that I love to use.

 

Bring that reusable bag and water bottle!

This one is a given. You probably do this already and if you don’t, it is the easiest way you can limit your plastic and packaging waste. When my husband and I go out on our mini day trip adventures we often stop by a store for a drink. Once in a while it’s fine to pick up your favorite tea or beverage, but something I’ve been trying to do more as this has become more frequent is bring my own drink in a reusable water bottle. I tend to stop for iced tea so now I bring it myself. In colder months I also pack a thermos of cocoa or hot tea so I don’t feel the need to buy it while I’m out. I also work harder at remembering to bring my reusable shopping bags back to my car when I am done so that I have them the next time I have to run into the store. It saves so many plastic bags from entering the environment. And when I do forget my reusable bag, I do my best to just carry out items as is if I can get away with skipping a bag. A few seconds of convenience isn’t worth thousands of years in the earth.

My favorite market basket:

 

 

Bring it a step further with reusable produce bags.

You know those pesky little green or clear plastic bags in the produce aisle? I despise using them and before I found my reusable produce bags I would skip them altogether and my produce would roll around in my cart. I use these organic cotton reusable bags for all my produce needs:

 

 

 

Buy produce without the plastic.

There is almost always a plastic free option, which is another reason why my reusable produce bags are helpful. Instead of getting a bag of green beens or sprouts, I pick from the box or basket myself and put them in my own eco-friendly bags. I also never buy peppers or tomatoes or other such vegetables in plastic wrap containers. I always opt for the single unpackaged version. The only things I haven’t found an alternative for yet is berries. Most still come in plastic containers so I try to only buy these when really needed and in season.

 

Ask yourself, do I need this today?

I’m all for a yummy snack once in a while, but most times the answer to this question is no. It seems to me that the most unhealthiest snacks always come in plastic bags or boxes with plastic containers. This makes it easier for me to say “no thanks,” even if I do still get snacks once in a while.

 

Look for the less packaged version.

Chances are, there is a similar product with less packaging that you can choose from. Instead of getting green tea mochi ice cream that comes with a plastic container inside the box, I can get a recycling cardboard carton of green tea ice cream instead. Plus I get more ice cream for the price. Look around at the similar items next to yours. Chances are, there is one just as good with less packaging to worry about.

 

Glass over plastic.

Glass is easier to recycle and if it does not recycle, it does not stay in the environment for thousands of years as it will break down. Always go for glass over plastic. If you can’t find glass, aluminum cans are also better than plastic.

 

Go for full size over snack size.

Snack sized containers are tricky. They are so easy to pop into a lunch box or grab on the go, but they come in so much extra packaging and they also cost more for less food. Take a pack of fruit cups for example. A small amount fits in each cup and they’re covered in so much plastic. You’re better off buying a large jar or can and separating it yourself into reusable containers at home.

 

Reusable containers for on the go.

If you like snack sized portions or pack your own lunch, having a selection of eco-friendly jars, bags, and containers is a great way to create your own snack sized portions from full sized products, just like the fruit cups mentioned above. Instead of individual packets of cheese and crackers you can make your own from a large wedge of cheese and a box. You’ll still have the convenience of the to go size without the extra packaging and the extra cost. The reusable containers pictured above are from TJ Maxx and Home Goods.

 

Reusable bags and jars for storing your fresh food. 

Those bags and boxes of frozen foods are tempting for convenience, but they add up in both cost and waste. You can freeze your own fruit for smoothies or even freeze your own home cooked meals to save for later by placing them in eco-friendly reusable freezer bags. My favorite are these Stasher bags:

 

 

 

And finally; don’t forget to recycle what you can. 

Recycling your packaging is so important. Of course, not everything is recyclable, but many items are. Do your best to recycle what you can each and every time you through out your used up products.

 

 

There are many more ways to prevent food packing waste. What are your favorite swaps and changes to help you limit your packaging waste? I would love to hear your best ideas in the comments below, especially because we can all benefit from them. And of course any way we can make an impact is by being vocal about making better choices. Influence your friends and family to adopt one swap or two. Share posts like this one to Pinterest and on your social media pages. Don’t be afraid to tweet or pin this post. Talk about it with people you know. You can also speak up at your local grocery store by suggesting to a manager that you would shop there more often if they had some better options for conscientious shoppers. It might not make a difference immediately, but it could get a store to think outside the box or even make some changes based on customer demand and popularity of these ideas. You can even suggest some simple changes that they can make, especially changes that would benefit the store and help them save money too. We can solve this problem together.