Practice #4: Bring your own containers, reusable produce bags

Now that I have told you to make the less waste choice in the produce section, how are you going to transport those green beans or brussel sprouts from the bin to the checkout to your house? That’s where reusable produce bags come into play. The bags pictured are from Simple Ecology and I use them from produce to bulk foods at grocery stores and farmers’ markets. They are amazing. There are lots of options out there. Etsy sells some as well as other online stores so feel free to pick the bags that best fit your lifestyle and personality. As you can see, I have written the tare weight on the organic cotton ones with a sharpie and have created a space for the bulk PLU # as well. This saves me from having to weigh them at the check out line when I first arrive. Check with your local grocery stores (this might feel uncomfortable but that’s all part of the less waste experience!) to see if they are willing to weigh your reusable containers for you and if, when it’s time to check out, they can manually input your tare weight. Otherwise, you will be paying for the weight of your containers as well as the food. Honestly, some people don’t mind paying the few cents extra on each purchase. It’s up to you. Simple Ecology has the tare weight written in ounces on their tags which is super handy but the store I frequent for bulk (Lucky’s Market Rock Hill) uses by the pound so I had to convert. And, writing it on the front like that helps the checker see it more easily (and trust me, you want to make your checker as happy as possible). I write the PLU # in washable marker (make sure you remember to bring it to the store) so it just washes out with the laundry. That’s about all I can think of for these little guys. They are wonderful and it feels good to not grab for those pesky plastic bags.